'No policemen coerced to testify in ICC case'
AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co belied reports that he and Speaker Martin Romualdez were coercing policemen to testify in an International Criminal Court (ICC) inquiry over the bloody drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The lawmaker issued the statement after Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said that National Intelligence Coordinating Agency chief Ricardo de Leon and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, in the presence of Co and Romualdez, questioned policemen and asked them to execute affidavits against him and Duterte.
Co said former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief and current Northern Luzon Command head Romeo Caramat allegedly voluntarily offered information on extrajudicial killings committed during Duterte's drug war, in exchange for his appointment as [police chief].
Co said Romualdez rejected Caramat's proposal, saying appointments were based on the trust and confidence of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Caramat was among the personalities mentioned by Trillanes included in the ICC case against Duterte and dela Rosa.
Co said he was introduced to Caramat in 2023 by ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo.
«The second time I met him was in the townhouse of Speaker Martin Romualdez a few months ago. When I arrived, Gen. Caramat was already there,» Co said.
AdvertisementHe added that there was no mention of testifying against anyone before the ICC.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers dismissed dela Rosa's claims as mere gossip.
«If the gossip is about the appointment that he wants as chief PNP (Philippine National Police), like what our speaker said, he does not have any powers to appoint a PNP chief,» Barbers said.
Barbers said dela Rosa is welcome to attend the Quad Committee hearings on the extrajudicial killings, proliferation of Philippine offshore gaming operators, drugs and illegal procurement of lands by Chinese nationals.
Advertisement«We would appreciate any information. In fact, we can use his wisdom, his experience in writing laws to prevent issues such as this,» he added.
