BY VICTOR REYES and ASHZEL HACHERO
THE Philippine National Police yesterday said it will not enforce any arrest warrant that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will issue against former President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte in relation to its ongoing investigation into the violent drug war campaign of the previous administration.
“So, for all intents and purposes, the ICC has no jurisdiction over us. They could issue a warrant of arrest to anyone but the enforcement is another thing,” said PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo, adding that they are not aware that the ICC has issued any warrant against the former chief executive.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said there is no need for President Marcos Jr. to issue a memorandum order enjoining government agencies and officials not to cooperate with the ICC.
“The President’s repeated public statements are as good and effective as any written memorandum circular,” Guevarra said.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Monday, citing a supposed information allegedly relayed to Duterte, said that the latter could be arrested “anytime” as the ICC is purportedly already set to issue a warrant of arrest against him.
Duterte is being investigated for his government’s violent anti-illegal drugs campaign that left thousands of people dead.
Fajardo said the PNP is not aware as to the source of Duterte’s information.
“But on the part of the PNP, we have not received any information with respect to the warrant of arrest supposedly issued by the International Criminal Court,” she said, adding: “So far, we have not received any form of coordination from any government agency on that aspect.”
But even if an arrest warrant is issued, Fajardo said they will stand by Marcos’ directive not to cooperate with the ICC.
“Can they enforce it within the jurisdiction of the Philippine government? I think our President is very clear that they don’t have any jurisdiction over our country,” she said, also saying that “we think this is interference in the sovereignty of our country.”
“This is not only about our former president. This is also applicable to any ordinary citizen who might have a case outside the jurisdiction of the PNP,” Fajardo also said.
Guevarra said the President has been very clear about his administration’s position against the ICC investigation, therefore there is no need for a memorandum reiterating the same.
