Año: Sison needs 'psychiatric help'

MANILA - A day after the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) accused the government forces of plotting to kill its leader, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Eduardo Año said communist leader Jose Maria Sison needs "professional psychiatric help."

"I believe Sison needs professional psychiatric help to treat his hallucinations. His statement is another figment of his imagination," Año said responding to a statement issued by the NDFP on Tuesday.

In the statement, the NDFP bared an alleged plot by the United States Central Investigation Agency and the AFP to assassinate Sison in The Netherlands and overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte.

The plan is supposed to be carried out by US-CIA operatives close to Año and Duterte.

"If I remember right, 'yan din ang kuwento n'ya nung 1999 during the time of former President (Joseph) Estrada where he also alleged that a hit team was sent to (The) Netherland by President Estrada and former Chief PNP (Philippine National Police) Director General Panfilo Lacson to kill him using former ABB (Alex Buncayao Brigade) and RJ (rejectionist) Faction operatives," he added.

The AFP chief said that aside from being a criminal and a master of deception, Sison is also a congenital liar.

AFP spokesperson Restituto Padilla on Tuesday denied the NDFP's claims saying it was new a propaganda leftist group to gain sympathy and toe the anti-US line that they usually take.