PNP to arrest NDF consultants -- Dela Rosa

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6): PNP to arrest NDF consultants -- Dela Rosa

As ordered by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Monday night said the PNP will arrest the consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF) who are out of the country.

"The President has given the orders to arrest upon entry to the Philippine soil of the NDF consultants," Dela Rosa said in an ambush interview on Monday evening.

President Duterte has ordered the arrest of NDF consultants spouses Wilma and Benito Tiamzon, Vic Ladlad, Afelberto Silva, Alfonso Jazmines, Alfredo Mapano, Loida Magpatoc, Pedro Cudaste, Ruben Salota, Ernesto Lorenzo, Porferio Tuna, Renante Gamara and Tirso Alcantara.

Dela Rosa noted that the NDF consultants are abroad.

"Yung mga NDF consultants na andun sa abroad," he said.

However, Dela Rosa said, those who have arrived in the country will be arrested here.

"Yung mga nakauwi, hanapin na lang natin dito at dito na arestuhin sa Pilipinas," he said.

"We are armed with warrant of arrest, arestuhin namin," Dela Rosa said.

The PNP chief noted that the NDF consultants have live arrest warrant such that they were only given safe conduct pass.

"Meron silang warrant. Di ba pinalabas sa kulungan binigyan ng safe conduct pass. Ngayon live pa rin yung kanilang warrant of arrest," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said that they would be arrested not because of the failed peace talks, but because of the cases filed against them since their arrest warrant was not quashed, hence, they could be arrested.

Likewise, the PNP chief said he had ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to lead in the arrest of NDF consultants upon their arrival in the country.

"I have instructed the CIDG to lead in this operation and CIDG will coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration para pagdating nila maaresto sila," Dela Rosa said.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=961557