PNP: Cops in 'personal capacity' not prevented from cooperating with ICC drug war probe

Police officers “in their own personal capacity” are not precluded from cooperating with the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the Duterte administration’s drug war, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

At a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo was asked if the police organization will provide documents to or will cooperate with the ICC in connection with the drug war probe.

“Nagsalita na po yung ating Pangulo na the Philippines will not cooperate in any investigation na gagawin po ng ICC because there is a question of jurisdiction. And even our [Office of the Solicitor General] and [Department of Justice] have already spoken. On the part of the PNP, we will align on the stand of the national government po,” Fajardo told reporters.

(Our President has already said that the Philippines will not cooperate in any investigation of the ICC because there is a question of jurisdiction. And even our Office of the Solicitor General and Department of Justice have already spoken. On the part of the PNP, we will align on the stand of the national government.)

“But if there are any individuals who wish to cooperate in their own personal capacity, they are not precluded from doing so. But as [the] PNP [as an] organization, naka-align po tayo sa position ng ating national government,” she added.

(But if there are any individuals who wish to cooperate in their own personal capacity, they are not precluded from doing so. But as a PNP organization, we are aligned with the position of our national government.)'

Not part of ICC

Interior and Local Government  Secretary Jonvic Remulla maintained that the Philippines is not a part of the ICC but “what officers do, active or retired, are with their personal choice or conscience.”

“It is the policy of the state that we are not officially part of the ICC. The state will not sanction any official forms of cooperation,” Remulla told GMA News Online in a message.

“What officers do, active or retired, are with their personal choice or conscience.  We have not heard of any active official cooperating officially,” he added.

The ICC has urged individuals with knowledge of crimes committed during the Duterte administration's war on drugs to reach out to the Hague-based tribunal.

In its recent public notice, the ICC encouraged potential witnesses to share information about alleged crimes against humanity such as killings, torture, and sexual violence between June 2016 and March 2019.

The tribunal also appealed to PNP members and other law enforcement agencies who were involved in the drug war operations. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News