Cop hit by Honeylet during Duterte's arrest to receive medal, CIDG says

The cop who was hit by Honeylet Avanceña during the arrest of her partner former President Rodrigo Duterte will receive a medal, the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Friday.

CIDG chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III told Unang Balita in an interview that the police officer will also receive a three-day leave.

“Sa ngayon, bibigyan na lang namin ng Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting dahil may kasama 'yung three days leave. Kaya ma-enjoy niya 'yung leave na 'yun dahil napukpok siya ni Honeylet sa ulo,” Torre said.

(For now, we will give her the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting because it includes three days leave. So she can enjoy that leave because Honeylet hit her in the head.)

Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting is given to police officers "for having been wounded in action against an enemy as a direct result of an act of the enemy."

The medal is a circular silver disc with the figure of Lapu-Lapu on the center.

Torre said that personally he is not bent on filing a case against Duterte’s camp over alleged assault and obstruction of justice during the implementation of the arrest warrant.

According to him, the PNP will also have a discussion with the cop who was hurt during the incident after she expressed her plan to file a direct assault complaint against Avanceña.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro told Unang Balita in a separate interview that they will check if the police officer will still pursue the complaint.

“Doon po sa nasaktan po, titignan natin, i-update natin kung siya po ba ay magpapatuloy o itutuloy niya ang pagsampa ng kaso,” she said.

(As for the injured cop, we will look into it, we will update whether she will continue the filing of the case.)

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo on Thursday said Avanceña supposedly hit the policewoman with a cellphone. The cop sustained a lump on her forehead.

According to Fajardo, the injured police officer was assisting in clearing the way to Duterte who was about to be arrested.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Avanceña through Duterte’s former chief presidential legal counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo but they have yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

On Tuesday morning, authorities served a warrant of arrest from the ICC against Duterte for crimes against humanity in connection with his drug war.

The plane carrying Duterte departed the Philippines on Tuesday evening heading to The Hague in the Netherlands.

Early Thursday morning (Philippine time), Duterte entered the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison where he is set to be held while awaiting trial.

Duterte's first appearance at the ICC has been set for Friday.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News