‘No law violated in cops coordinating with ICC’

MANILA, Philippines — No law was violated when police officers communicated with representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigating the drug war launched by former president Rodrigo Duterte, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV maintained yesterday.

Trillanes said ICC investigators would not coordinate with Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, considered one of those involved in the case being the architect of Oplan Tokhang and chief of the Philippine National Police at initial implementation of the war on drugs in 2016.

“First, Bato was not approached because he was the main suspect in the case. The evidence against him is clear,” Trillanes said in Filipino in a Viber message to Senate reporters, referring to Dela Rosa by his nickname.

“Secondly, it is not a crime for the police to interact in their personal capacity because only they as individuals will be harmed if they do not answer for their involvement in the ICC case,” he said.

“Third, Bato said he will not give attention to my statement but he reacted lengthily,” Trillanes added.

Trillanes also advised Duterte’s lawyers: “According to Sec. 17 of RA 9851, An Act Defining Crimes Against Humanity, etc., ‘In the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation. Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court…’”

Former Duterte spokesman Harry Roque merely laughed in reaction to Trillanes, saying, “Bwahahahaha! That law is if the prosecution is in the Phil and not in the ICC! Gross ignorance of the law!”

Dela Rosa expressed confidence that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Philippine National Police (PNP) would prosecute government officials or law enforcers who help the ICC investigation on the previous administration’s war on drugs.

Dela Rosa said he would not dignify Trillanes’ claim that 50 active and former police officers have already been informed by the ICC about their possible involvement in the drug war crime.

“I do not want to