PNP chief Avelino Razon has commended Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco and 26 Negros Occidental policemen for a job well done, in connection with the arrest of Randal Echanis whom the police and military tagged as a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Razon, in his letter of commendation, said the exemplary performance of Franco and his men is “worthy of emulation”.

Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Danilo Valero earlier said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and PNP is coming up with a “special reward” for policemen who had participated in the arrest of Echanis.

Echanis was apprehended on Jan. 28 by policemen in Bago City, Negros Occidental, by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Leyte Judge Ephraim Abando for 15 counts of murder.

Police Director Jefferson Soriano, Task Force USIG chief, said Echanis who is facing 15 counts of murder, in connection with the mass graves discovered in Leyte, was also involved in the assassination of members of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines-Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan in central Luzon in 2002.

Police records also show that Echanis, who is now detained at the Leyte Provincial Jail, was charged in court for illegal possession of firearms and kidnapping.

Anakpawis partylist Rep. Rafael Mariano lambasted the PNP for recommending the promotion of policemen who arrested Echanis, who is the deputy secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas.

Mariano who is also the KMP chairman, also  disputed military and police claims that Echanis is a member of the CPP Central Committee and chairs its National Peasant Commission.

Describing the accusations against Echanis as baseless. Mariano, in a statement, said “ It is also a way of the PNP to pre-empt our motion for the immediate release of Ka Randy”.

Echanis was transferred to the Leyte Provincial Jail, after his arrest in Brgy. Calumangan,Bago City, last month.*GPB

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