PNP ready to serve possible arrest warrants for Duterte allies in drug war

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is ready to assist the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) if additional arrest warrants are issued against former President Rodrigo Duterte's "co-perpetrators" in the crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a radio interview on Sunday, PNP spokesperson PBGen. Jean Fajardo said they have not yet received any information on the matter. However, she assured that the PNP has a "template" in place for executing potential arrest warrants for other individuals involved in the bloody drug war.

“Unang una, ayaw nating pangunahan ang proseso. Although alam naman natin na maliban kay dating pangulo ay may mga kasama po siya doon sa mga nakasuhan. Pero tama po kayo, since nauna na nga itong naging pag-aresto sa dating pangulo, ay more or less may template na tayo (First of all, we don't want to preempt the process. Although we know that, aside from the former president, there are others who are also facing charges. But you're right, since the arrest of the former president has already taken place, we more or less have a template in place),” she said.

“Ibig sabihin, kung saka-sakaling may lalabas at hihingin po muli ng Interpol ang tulong ng PNP ay nakahanda po ang PNP na mag-provide ng assistance at i-implement po natin itong warrant na ito according sa ating umiiral na batas (This means that if another request comes up and Interpol asks for the PNP's assistance again, the PNP is ready to provide help and implement the warrant in accordance with our existing laws),” she added.

On March 11, the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), in coordination with Interpol, led the serving of an arrest warrant to Duterte for his crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC), upon his arrival from Hong Kong.

Duterte was flown to The Hague, Netherlands, via a chartered plane paid for by the Office of the President. The government declined to disclose the cost of the flight and the identity of the aircraft's owner.

Upon his arrival in The Hague, Duterte was taken to the ICC detention centre.

The former Philippine President made his first appearance before the ICC on 14 March, via video link.

Earlier, ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti said the international court has been scrutinizing the roles of both Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and another former PNP chief, Oscar Albayalde, in the controversial anti-drug campaign, and that arrest warrants could be issued against them as well.

Earlier, ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti said Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa and former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde were mentioned in the initial document and that potential arrest warrants were being considered for both of them.

While the arrest warrant was issued specifically for Duterte, Conti warned Dela Rosa not to be complacent as the ICC has been looking into Albayalde and his roles in the war on drugs campaign.

However, Fajardo clarified that there is no available information yet regarding the issuance of any arrest warrants related to the extrajudicial killings, aside from those concerning Duterte.

“Sa ngayon as we speak, ay wala tayong information at wala po tayong paunang information na meron na pong lumabas na warrant of arrest patungkol po sa iba pa po nating mga opisyales o indibidwal na kasama doon sa kaso sa ICC (As of now, as we speak, we have no information and we have not received any preliminary information that any arrest warrants have been issued concerning other officials or individuals involved in the case at the ICC),” she said.