Ridon challenges ‘double-standard’ in PNP handling of Duterte, Lustre cases

Public prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon questioned the implementation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of its arrest warrants, highlighting the difference in the agency’s approach between the case of Vice President Sara Duterte and journalist Philip Lustre.

He challenged the decision of the PNP to arrest Lustre for cyberlibel who was attending a media forum in Quezon City on Saturday, 24 October, while opting to back off when it came to Duterte who was charged with a crime of grave threats at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

“With specific emphasis on the case of Philip Lustre, it basically also reflects as to the manner by which the Philippine National Police had been implementing various arrest orders on different personalities,” Ridon said in a press conference on Monday.

“Like what we’ve been saying last month, the double standard of the non-arrest of the Vice President is clearly at play on the arrest of Philip Lustre,” he added.

The lawmaker stressed that both cases that were filed against Duterte and Lustre were bailable in nature, recalling how the agency previously stated that it arrested senators because of non-bailable plunder charges that they were facing.

“What is the distinction that the Philippine National Police had implemented in both of these cases?” he asked.

In view of the perceived discrepancies, Ridon said that it would be better if the PNP would explain to both Congress and the public its decision to enforce a warrant on a journalist that was simply doing his job to serve the public.

During her appearance at the Quezon City Hall of Justice on 5 September, Duterte was repeatedly quoted as stating that she did not trust the police, fearing that she would be killed if she was taken into custody.

After hearing of the utterances, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed that it was “unfortunate” that the Vice President had developed such an impression, noting how they had afforded her the “respect her position deserves.”

Remulla further stated that they had known about Duterte’s whereabouts the night prior but decided to not enforce the warrant of arrest.

“We have all the body cam footage of her warrants being served. We have all the body cam footage of her arrival to post bail. We knew of her whereabouts the night before, but we did not force the warrant of arrest,” he said in a statement.

Duterte was not taken to a detention facility on the said day as she was released on bail for the charges.