PNP ready to assist in serving possible arrest warrants vs Duterte allies involved in drug war

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday it is prepared to provide assistance to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) should other warrants of arrest be issued against “co-perpetrators” of former president Rodrigo Duterte in his deadly war on drugs. 

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo however disclosed that no information has yet been given to them regarding the matter, but assured the PNP has a “template” in serving possible arrest warrants to other individuals linked to the drug war. 

“Unang una, ayaw nating pangunahan ang proseso. Although alam naman natin na maliban kay dating pangulo ay may mga kasama po siya doon sa mga nakasuhan. Pero tama po kayo, since nauna na nga itong naging pag-aresto sa dating pangulo, ay more or less may template na tayo,” she said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(First of all, we don't want to preempt the process. However, we know that there are others also being charged apart from the former president. But since Duterte had already been arrested, we already have a template for what to do with others.) 

“Ibig sabihin, kung saka-sakaling may lalabas at hihingin po muli ng Interpol ang tulong ng PNP ay nakahanda po ang PNP na mag-provide ng assistance at i-implement po natin itong warrant na ito according sa ating umiiral na batas,” she added. 

(This means that if there will be other arrest warrants issued and the Interpol asks again for assistance from the PNP, we are ready to provide such and we will implement this warrant in accordance with our existing laws.)

Authorities last Tuesday served a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Duterte for murder charges as a crime against humanity in connection with his deadly drug war that reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 6,000 people.

The former Philippine leader is currently in detention at the ICC prison at The Hague, Netherlands. He made his first appearance before the ICC on Friday, via video link.

Last Wednesday, Malacañang said it has not received any official communication about any Interpol red notice for the “co-perpetrators” of Duterte in connection with the killings during his administration’s bloody war on drugs. 

But ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti said the international court has been scrutinizing the roles of both Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and another former PNP chief, Oscar Albayalde, in the controversial anti-drug campaign, and that arrest warrants could be issued against them as well.

Fajardo clarified that the PNP has not yet received information regarding the possible arrest warrants against other individuals. 

“Sa ngayon as we speak, ay wala tayong information at wala po tayong paunang information na meron na pong lumabas na warrant of arrest patungkol po sa iba pa po nating mga opisyales o indibidwal na kasama doon sa kaso sa ICC,” she said. 

(Right now as we speak, we do not have information or any prior information that there is an arrest warrant issued against our other officers or individuals who are included in the ICC case.) 

Dela Rosa, who served as the PNP chief during Duterte’s controversial drug war, accused President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of betrayal after the arrest of the ex-president.

According to Dela Rosa, Marcos supposedly assured him that he will never cooperate with the ICC as the international tribunal might also pursue cases against his own family. 

Malacañang, in return, denied the allegations of betrayal after it assisted the Interpol in implementing an arrest warrant from the ICC against Duterte. —RF/KG, GMA Integrated News