PNP won’t bar officers from cooperating with ICC

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Philippine National Police are not prohibited from cooperating in a personal capacity with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war, the PNP said yesterday.

At a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the police force would align with President Marcos’ directive not to engage with the ICC.

“Our President had already said that the Philippines would not cooperate in any investigation of the ICC because there is a question of jurisdiction,” Fajardo said.

“Even our Office of the Solicitor General and Department of Justice have already spoken. On the part of the PNP, we will align with the stand of the national government,” she added.

Fajardo clarified, however, that police officers who choose to cooperate with the ICC in their personal capacity are free to do so.

“If there are individuals who wish to cooperate in their own personal capacity, they are not precluded from doing so,

“If there are individuals who wish to cooperate in their own personal capacity, they are not precluded from doing so,” she said, emphasizing that as the PNP, they are aligned with the position of the national government.

Several PNP members have already gotten in touch with the court, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti told “Storycon” on One News yesterday. She declined to provide details, citing the confidentiality of ICC proceedings.

She said the ICC’s “witness call” was directed at other Philippine law enforcement personnel and public officials who may want to provide additional testimonies to the ICC.

Conti stressed that the witness call was not an indication that the ICC has a weak case and needs more evidence against those who face possible arrest and trial for crimes against humanity in connection with the war on drugs.