Police monitoring Leftist groups suspected of being CPP fronts? No comment, says Sinas

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas is silent on whether police are monitoring the activities of the militant groups mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte as fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

In a television interview on Thursday, Sinas was asked if the police are monitoring the activities of leftist groups such as the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, Bayan and Gabriela following Duterte's accusation that the groups are participants in the CPP's plan to oust the government.

"No comment po kami doon..." Sinas told ANC.

"Una, 'yung sinasabi ni Presidente, si Presidente 'yun. Madaming information siya na beyond our control, beyond me..." he added.

Sinas said those being accused could always counter the allegations made by the President.

"Kung ni-name sila ni Presidente, maraming alam si Presidente na hindi namin alam. Kung ano po ang direktiba ay sa amin na lang po 'yun. As to the safety nila, alam na rin nila 'yun. Puwede naman sila makipagugnayan kaagad at magpatotoo na di sila legal front," Sinas said.

Duterte, in his late Monday night address, strongly identified the groups as fronts for the CPP and the National Democratic Front.

"We are identifying you as members in a grand conspiracy comprising all the legal fronts they have organized headed by NDF at Communist Party of the Philippines," Duterte had said.

"The AFP is very correct. You are being identified as the members of the communist para alam namin. 'Yon ang totoo, hindi red-tagging," he added.

The Makabayan bloc, for its part, has repeatedly denied that it has connections with communist rebels.

Its members have slammed the government and the military for their continuous "red-tagging" of activists, saying they should instead address present social issues and concerns. — RSJ, GMA News