PNP won’t arrest Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte can sleep soundly as the Philippine National Police (PNP) will not implement any warrant of arrest coming from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information officer, said yesterday that they are taking the cue from President Marcos, who earlier said the Philippines does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction over the country.

“They could issue a warrant of arrest to anyone, but the enforcement is another thing. Can they enforce it within the jurisdiction of the Philippine government?” Fajardo told a news briefing at Camp Crame.

“I think our President is very clear on that: they don’t have any jurisdiction here in our country,” she said.

Duterte’s former spokesman Harry Roque said the ex-president has information that he could be ordered arrested by the ICC at any time.

When asked if the PNP will not enforce an arrest warrant against Duterte from the ICC, Fajardo said: “Yes, because there is already a question of jurisdiction, because in our view, this is infringing on the sovereignty of our country.”

Fajardo said they have no idea where Roque got his information about Duterte’s impending arrest order.

She stressed that the PNP has not received any information about a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC.

Fajardo added the foreign affairs and justice departments have not coordinated with the PNP about Duterte.

For Fajardo, there is no reason for the ICC to interfere with the internal affairs of the Philippines as the country’s judicial system is working.

Stressing her point, Fajardo said there are police officers facing cases before the courts due to nefarious activities.

Duterte has said the ICC would never get him alive even if the tribunal issues an arrest warrant against him, according to Roque.

Roque said Duterte was “unfazed” when he received information that he could be arrested anytime, adding that the former president told him he would only submit himself to the jurisdiction of Philippine courts.

“He vowed that the ICC would never get him alive. Since he is already 80 years old, Tatay Digong would fight all attempts to have him detained and prosecuted in The Hague for