MANILA—Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday said he will discuss with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez allegations that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been infiltrated by communists.
“I will take it up directly with AFP Chief Galvez to get more info from him,” Guevarra told reporters. “We take this seriously. Personally, this is the first time I heard such allegation,” Guevarra said.
Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., AFP Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, claimed that the communists have infiltrated the DOJ and allegedly have been helping dismiss criminal complaints against communist rebels.
Guevarra expressed confidence with the DOJ prosecutors in the handling of criminal complaints.
“Our prosecutors rely principally on the evidence submitted by our law enforcers and security personnel, including the AFP,” he said.
Parlade also earlier said that there are at least 18 schools where the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples’ Army (CPP-NPA) is allegedly recruiting students as part of its plan to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte.