No battery? Injured SAF won't reply to Honeylet with assault charge

The Special Action Force officer who was allegedly struck on the head with a cellphone by former president Rodrigo Duterte’s partner, Honeylet Avanceña, will not be filing any complaint, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Friday.

PNP spokesperson PBGen. Jean Fajardo stated in a phone interview that the officer decided against escalating the matter because suffering injuries is part of a police officer’s job.

“It is the police officer’s personal decision not to file a complaint, and her reason is that it’s part of the hazards of her job, so she’s fine with it. She said she’ll just focus on her recovery and then return to work,” said Fajardo in English and Filipino.

Fajardo added that the PNP covered the officer’s medical needs. “She was asked to rest, and the PNP took care of her medication,” she noted. According to Fajardo, the officer will also receive a commendation “for fulfilling her duties” as a police officer.

On 11 March, authorities served a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Duterte for crimes against humanity related to the bloody war on drugs enforced during his administration. Duterte was apprehended at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) upon returning from Hong Kong, then transferred to Villamor Airbase in Pasay City for a chartered flight to The Hague, Netherlands.

The PNP stated that Avanceña allegedly hit the policewoman with a cellphone, causing a bump on her forehead. The injured officer had been assisting in clearing the way for Duterte as he was about to board a plane bound for The Hague.