PNP: No confirmed reports on ICC’s drug war probe in PH

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. (Official facebook page of PGen Benjamin Acorda Jr.)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has no confirmed information on reports that International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators visited the country last December and were able to gather enough evidence against former president Rodrigo Duterte worthy of an arrest warrant.

“As of now, we don’t have confirmed reports or communications reaching our office to that effect, but in the interest of justice, the PNP is always consistent in the pursuit of justice,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said during a press conference on Monday.

His statement came after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s revelation that “ICC investigators have already done what they needed to do in their initial investigation inside the country as far as the principal accused are concerned.”

Trillanes also claimed that investigators are just waiting for the arrest warrant, which he claimed “may come very, very soon.”

When asked how the arrest warrant will be served, Acorda answered: “I cannot comment on that as of now.”

He added that they would still need “to get a directive from the higher office” if it [the arrest warrant] ever comes out.”

Earlier, Acorda said it is “monitoring” the reported presence of ICC representatives in the country.

He, however, added that they are “keeping the report to themselves” and “cannot confirm or deny” ICC’s “presence or efforts.”

Based on reports, Duterte’s war on drugs left at least 6,000 people dead; however, various human rights groups and advocates claim that the number may have reached 20,000.

Duterte and Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who was the former PNP chief during the former administration, were among the respondents of the crimes against humanity case pending before the ICC.

On November 24, last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the government was considering resuming its membership to the ICC following discussions in the House of Representatives regarding the possibility of allowing its investigators to probe the drug war under the term of his predecessor.