PNP looking into NPA involvement in The Pen uprising

Authorities are seeing Red in the November 29 botched uprising at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati. Police on Tuesday said they are looking into the involvement of the communist movement in the siege after finding out that one of the accused is suspected to have links with the New People's Army (NPA). National Police chief Avelino Razon did not identify the accused but some police officials who requested anonymity said it is Myrna Buendia, who allegedly has romantic relations with Jose Maria Sison, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). "We have received reports that one of those arrested have connection with the CPP-NPA and we are verifying it now," Razon told reporters at Camp Crame Tuesday afternoon. Pressed on the nature of the link, Razon said that aside from being an alleged member of the movement, the person also has "physical relation" with the movement. Razon said they are still looking into why the NPA would have participation in last Thursday's incident, which was led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. But in previous attempted coup incidents, authorities have said that the communist movement is set to benefit from it because it is in line with their objective to topple the legitimate government. The authorities have been investigating the alleged alliance between Trillanes and some leaders of the Maoist movement since 2003. In the last senatorial elections, the defense department claimed that Trillanes got a boost in his campaign from the Communist Party of the Philippines. Then Defense secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. claimed to have received intelligence reports that the New People's Army (NPA) campaigned for the former Navy lieutenant in rebel strongholds. - GMANews.TV