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Detained activist Amanda Echanis: 'Wala po akong baby armalite, baby lang'

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<p>MANILA - Detained activist Amanda Echanis on Tuesday denounced what she called were trumped-up charges filed against her by state forces, hoping for her immediate release.</p><p>&quot;Sana makalaya na talaga kami ni baby dahil alam naman natin na hindi totoo, gawa-gawa lang &#x27;yong mga kaso nila laban sa akin,&quot; she said in a video posted by Kapatid, a group of families and friends of political prisoners.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pSDsH5LA4Nw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video from Kapatid&#x27;s Facebook page</em></div><p>(I hope I and my baby will be released because we know the charges brought against me are not true. They&#x27;re made-up.)</p><p>The 32-year-old peasant organizer, who is detained at a police camp in Tuguegarao City together with her month-old baby boy, rejected police reports that firearms and explosives found inside the home where she was staying were hers.</p><p>&quot;Yong kausap ko nga &#x27;yong mga interrogator, wala po akong baby armalite, baby lang,&quot; she said.</p><p>(When I talked with the interrogators, [I said] I don&#x27;t have a baby armalite, only a baby.)</p><p>&quot;At wala po akong pasabog, pasabog lang na balita. Surprise, it&#x27;s a boy. Wala eh. Gano&#x27;n lang.&quot;</p><p>(And I also don&#x27;t keep explosives, just explosive news. Surprise, it&#x27;s a boy. That&#x27;s it.)</p><p>Despite her predicament, Echanis said she was not losing hope. Instead, the rampant red-tagging activity of state forces against activists and critics will only drive their causes, she added.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yong mga mahihirap na sitwasyon, dapat hindi ito &#x27;yong magpahina sa atin. Bagkus ito pa &#x27;yong dapat na magpatatag,&quot; she said.</p><p>(These difficult situations should not weaken us but instead strengthen us.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/02/20/daughter-of-slain-anakpawis-leader-arrested-for-alleged-illegal-possession-of-firearms-explosives">Daughter of slain Anakpawis leader arrested for alleged illegal possession of firearms, explosives</a></li></ul><p>Echanis was arrested by soldiers and police officers in Baggao, Cagayan on Dec. 2 at 3 a.m. Authorities reportedly found grenades, an M16 rifle and ammunition in the house where she was staying.</p><p>She is the youngest daughter of Anakpawis leader Randy Echanis, who was killed inside his home in Novaliches, Quezon City in August. The murder remains unsolved.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/21/20/chr-peasant-leader-echanis-tortured-to-death">CHR: Peasant leader Echanis tortured to death</a></li></ul><p>Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Debold Sinas had earlier denied the operating team planted the weapons against Echanis.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yong mga sinabi nilang planting, hindi po totoo &#x27;yon. Papano ka mag-plant ng mga baril na ito, mga bago, mga high-caliber. Mahirap po mag-plant no&#x27;n,&quot; he said.</p><p>(On their accusation it was planted, that&#x27;s not true. How can you plant a high-caliber firearm? That&#x27;s difficult.)</p><p>Sinas also claimed Echanis was part of the underground communist movement, but no one had yet come forward to directly testify against her.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/03/20/daughter-of-slain-anakpawis-leader-is-part-of-communist-underground-sinas">Daughter of slain Anakpawis leader is part of communist underground: Sinas</a></li></ul><p>However, Echanis&#x27; lawyer had refuted Sinas&#x27; claims, saying state forces &quot;illegally&quot; searched the house before the search warrant was served.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/04/20/search-came-before-warrant-lawyer-blasts-illegal-search-of-echanis-home">Search came before warrant: Lawyer says search of Echanis home &#x27;illegal&#x27;</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0ZU6dPvZRP4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Detained activist Amanda Echanis on Tuesday denounced what she called were trumped-up charges filed against her by state forces, hoping for her immediate release.</p>

Detained activist Amanda Echanis on Tuesday denounced what she called were trumped-up charges filed against her by state forces, hoping for her immediate release.