PNP chief, Gen. Debold Sinas. (File photo)
MANILA – Police officers are duty-bound to implement warrants issued by the courts, the country's top cop said on Thursday.
“I could not comment on that. Our work and the judiciary's work are different from each other. As for us, we have information and violation so we applied for a search warrant. We follow the law and we properly implement the orders stated in the search warrant,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Debold Sinas said in a TV interview.
Sinas' remark came after lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives sought an inquiry into the search warrants issued by a Quezon City trial court judge which resulted in the arrest of seven alleged communist leaders in separate operations last week.
"If that is what they (Makabayan bloc) want to do, it's their call. If they want feedback, ask the judiciary," he added.
On Monday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said the arrest of the seven individuals identified as Marc Ryan Cruz, Romina Raisell Astudillo, Jaymie Gregorio, Denisse Velasco, Joel Demate, Rodrigo Esparago, and a certain Lady Anne Salem was carried out in accordance with the law.
CIDG chief, Maj. Gen. Joel Napoleon Coronel, said the suspects are the subjects of search warrants for illegal possession of firearms issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Cecilia Burgos-Villavert.
All seven suspects are reportedly officials of the Metro Manila Regional Party Committee (MMRPC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Sinas, meanwhile, said they would comply with President Rodrigo Duterte's pronouncements that there would be no declaration of a ceasefire with the communist terrorists.
“The President already said there would be no SOPO (suspension of police operations). We would follow that. We are on alert because as we all know, communist terrorists do not spare any time of the year, especially now that the Christmas season is here. We have strengthened our visibility against these communist terrorists,” he said.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
