AFP denies Communist Party’s claim military will assassinate Sison

August 8, 2017

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deny the alleged plot to assassinate National Democratic Front chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison.

“Not true at all! This is once again a propaganda line of the left to gain sympathy and toe the anti-US line that they usually take. Again this is such a preposterous statement!” Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesman, said.

In a statement, the NDF—the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-- claims  its national executive committee received reports military officers who are assets of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and are close to AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Ano are engaged in a two-stage plot to assassinate Sison.

It noted that the first stage was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte and Ano.

“The first stage of military plot is to send a hit team to the Netherlands in order to assassinate Sison, with the verbal approvals of Duterte and Ano before or after the proclamation of martial law nationwide,” it said.

“The rationale of the assassination is to demoralize the revolutionary forces and possibly sow confusion and pandemonium among them,” it added.

It also said the second stage of military plot is the conduct of rebellion against the president.

“The second stage of the military plot is a coup to overthrow Duterte for having collaborated with the Communist party and the NPA for decades, betraying the alliance with the US and veering towards China and Russia…” it stated. Robina Asido/DMS