DOJ exec says defiant policemen will be held liable
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday warned police officers they will be held liable by the government if they defy the order of President Marcos Jr. not to participate in the probe of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the alleged crimes against humanity committed in pursuit of the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV recalled that the President in January this year directed law enforcement groups not to cooperate with the ICC in compliance with the “government policy” not to recognize the international body’s jurisdiction over the country.
Marcos has repeatedly said that his administration will not cooperate with the ICC probe since the country has a working and robust judicial system and because the Philippines is no longer a signatory to the Rome Statute that created the iternational arbitral body.
Clavano said Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra has said that the President’s pronouncement is “a government policy.”
“So, when a government officer or official is coordinating with the ICC against the direction or the orders and the policy of the government, there may be accountability involved,” he said.
“If there’s any law enforcement or government official that goes against the policies and orders of the authorities in position, then obviously there will be some sort of conflict of interest, there will be accountabilities and definitely liabilities that go with it,” he stressed.
Clavano also said government officials should follow ethical guidelines as stated under Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Clavano made the warning after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said that the ICC has allegedly directly communicated with about 50 active and retired policemen in relation to their participation in the implementation of the illegal drugs war of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Trillanes said that if the policemen will not cooperate in the ICC probe, “their status would be elevated to being suspects and, therefore, would result to travel restrictions initially and eventually arrest via Interpol.”
Asked if retired officials can also be held accountable, he said the government has “little to hold them over” if they are acting in their civilian or personal capacities in connection with the ICC probe.
PNP SANCTIONS
Like Clavano, PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo warned that the PNP will sanction policemen who will be found to have communicated with the ICC despite the standing order not to cooperate in the latter’s probe.
Fajardo stressed the police force will only cooperate in the investigation of its personnel if these are done by local government agencies, such as the DOJ.
“No less than the highest authority of the land, our President, said the government does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. The PNP, as part of the executive department, supports the position of the national government,” she said.
Fajardo said she has inquired with relevant PNP units about the matter.
“Our directorates have no information about the alleged active PNP personnel cooperating with the ICC,” she said.
Nevertheless, Fajardo said policemen will be penalized if they are found to have communicated with the ICC.
“If you are an active (PNP member) and you performed an activity that is contrary to what is being stated officially by the PNP, then it’s possible you will face sanctions,” she said, adding: “Any policeman who will not follow the chain of command (will face sanctions).” — With Victor Reyes
