The Philippine National Police (PNP) will provide assistance if a warrant of arrest is issued against former president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the cases he is facing before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This, after Duterte, during a Quad-Committee hearing of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Nov. 13, was quoted saying that he is ready to face the ICC and even made a dare to expedite the legal proceedings.
‘No less than the former president has clearly stated that he will submit himself to the jurisdiction of ICC. So personal, it’s his personal take and if there would be a warrant of arrest and the Interpol would seek assistance from us, said the PNP is bound by the security protocol with respect to assistance to be provided with our foreign counterparts,” said PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo.
Fajardo said there is no need for any preparation if it would happen since the PNP has a mechanism in terms of security assistance being provided to the Interpol and their foreign counterparts.
“This mechanism is working and this will not be the first time for the PNP to extend assistance to our foreign counterparts in terms of arresting individuals subject to Red Notices being issued by Interpol,” she said.
Duterte is facing charges before the ICC in connection with the drug war under his term when over 6,000 people died in police operations while thousands more were killed by alleged vigilante groups that were allegedly inspired by drug war killings.
While relatives of drug war victims are seeking justice for the death of their relatives under the hands of the policemen, the PNP leadership earlier said that they were also affected by the drug war.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said more than 1,000 policemen were either killed or wounded in the drug war under the Duterte administration.
The worst part, he said, is that the commitment to assist policemen who would be charged in relation to the drug war appeared to have been left on their own in facing criminal and administrative charges.
Fajardo said there were around 300 policemen who were charged in relation to the drug war, some of them were already dismissed from the service while the majority of them are still facing both criminal and administrative charges.
Reacting to the statement of Duterte against Marbil, Fajardo said the statement issued by the PNP chief regarding the number of policemen affected by the drug war was backed by data.
“This is not only the statements of our Chief PNP, this is backed up by solid data,” said Fajardo.
But Fajardo welcomed the statement of Duterte that he would raise P1 million to assist policemen who were charged for the drug war he launched.
“We would like to extend our appreciation to the former president for initiating it, this is a welcome development,” said Fajardo.