PNP: Filing impeachment case alone not a basis for arrest

PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. (Photo from the PNP Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — The “mere filing” of an impeachment complaint could not a basis to make an arrest, Col. Bernard Banac, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to jail those who would file an impeachment complaint against him, a threat that PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said could become reality if the President would formally order the PNP to do so and if the police would see a violation of the law in relation to the complaint.

“The act of filing an impeachment complaint by any citizen is a constitutional redress, not a violation of the law. And that is exactly what the PNP chief, Police General Oscar Albayalde meant,” said Banac, clarifying Albayalde’s remark.

According to Banac, Albayalde only said an investigation would be done if the PNP could find a violation of the law on the part of the filers, and the police would be duty bound to make an arrest if the violation should fall within the grounds for warrantless arrest or by virtue of a court order.

“His statement is premised on possible violation of law arising from wrongful accusations against the President, bordering on criminal libel, defamation and perjury,” he said.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)