Cops planting evidence? Sinas says militant groups could just be ‘imagining things’

For National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting director Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, militant groups could just be "imagining things" when they accused cops of planting evidence during operations.

At a press conference on Friday, Sinas said he would just let militant groups to express their opinion against policemen.

"Actually kapag tinanim mo ang bala at granada, hindi po tutubo 'yan. 'Di ba? Pangalawa, hindi po namin ugaling magtanim dahil tinuruan po kaming maging pulis," Sinas said.

"Pangatlo, kung naglagay sila ng ganoon, nasa kanila po 'yun. Wala po kami magawa. Gusto nila mag-express ng opinion, so be it..." Sinas said. "Baka nag-imagine things lang sila..." 

The accusation came after authorities had conducted separate raids on militant groups' offices in Bacolod and Manila which drew criticism from leftist organizations.

Armed with search warrants, the security forces' raid the offices of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela Negros Center, and the Negros Federation of Sugar Workers in Bacolod City which resulted in the arrest of at least 57 activists.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan then claimed that law enforcers had planted pieces of evidence during the said raids.

On the other hand, authorities also nabbed Gabriela chairperson Cora Agovida and her partner Michael Bartolome for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives during an operation in Paco, Manila.

The acting Metro Manila top cop further dismissed the allegation that security forces were targeting militant groups as they have been criticizing the Duterte administration.

"Hindi ko masabi 'yan kasi sa ngayon, wala kami. Kung sabihin nila 'yung raid na ginawa ng MPD, doon sa violations ng loose firearms, wala po kaming sinabi na targeting mga Bayan, ganon... walang specific targeting sa organization," Sinas said.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines insisted that there was no harassment in the arrest of the activists, noting that the arrests were pursuant to the appropriate warrants issued by the court. — RSJ, GMA News