Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (Photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Malacañang Palace assured on Saturday that the rule of law would prevail despite the signing of a law giving the Philippine National Police (PNP) the power to issue subpoenas.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the subpoena powers would not be used against the public and that judicial process would still be followed.
“We have laws in place that would address an abuse of this power,” Roque said, speaking in Filipino, in a press briefing at the Municipal Hall in Alimodian, Iloilo.
“So if there’s really no reason to issue a subpoinea, it could be questioned through a petition for certiorari – arguing that it is whimsical, capricious,” he added.
The Palace official added that the subpoena power of the PNP would only be used for “indirect contempt.”
“So that subpoena power will not be a reason to give them the power to arrest. It’s just a reason to have a petition for indirect contept. And it’s still the court that would prescribe a penalty for those who ignore the subpoena,” he said.
On Friday, President Rodrigo Duterted signed a law allowing high officials of the PNP and its investigation arm to issue a subpoena.
A subpoena, under Rule 21 of the Civil Procedure, is an order imposed to a person requiring him to attend and to testify at a hearing or trial, or at any investigation. /atm