PNP monitoring if ICC investigators already in Philippines

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is monitoring if representatives from the International Criminal Court (ICC) are already in the Philippines.

At a press conference, PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the police organization is keeping the report on the matter to themselves for now.

“We cannot confirm or deny that. But the PNP is monitoring kung anuman ang efforts dito, anong presence nila. But as of now, we are keeping it to ourselves muna iyong report,” he said.

(We cannot confirm or deny that. But the PNP is monitoring whatever their efforts or presence here. But as of now, we are keeping such a report to ourselves for now.)

He made the statement when asked if the PNP has intelligence information that ICC investigators, who are seeking to investigate the Duterte administration’s drug war, are already in the country.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Dana Sandoval previously said they could not comment on the matter as they had no official information yet.

On Friday, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said the BI could not verify whether personalities from the ICC.

“Upon inquiry doon sa BI, kay Commissioner Norman Tansingco mismo, hindi po nila mabe-verify or ma-confirm kung pumasok nga ba talaga ‘yung mga taga ICC,” Clavano said in an ambush interview.

(Upon inquiry with the BI, with Commissioner Norman Tansingco himself, they could not verify whether members of the ICC have entered the country.)

However, Clavano said that this is not a denial or a confirmation of the ICC’s presence.

“We’re also not admitting or confirming or acknowledging their presence here in the Philippines. Puwede rin naman pong hindi totoo ‘yung balita na ‘yun (that could be false),” he said.

The ICC’s supposed presence in the country was first floated by former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque after he claimed  that some individuals told him that personalities from the ICC are “coming in and out” of the Philippines.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra earlier stressed that the Philippine government had no legal duty to cooperate in the ICC’s investigation.

“As far as the government is concerned, it has maintained its position that the state has no legal duty to cooperate with the ICC investigator,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra pointed out that the ICC could investigate the drug war without coming to the Philippines.

“The ICC prosecutor can actually conduct his investigation without coming to the Philippines, as he has local groups providing him support and assistance,” he said. — RSJ GMA Integrated News