PNP seeks DOJ opinion on Senate arrest orders

The Philippine National Police has sought the legal opinion of the Department of Justice regarding the extent of police authority to implement arrest orders issued by both houses of Congress in their exercise of contempt powers. PNP Director General Avelino Razon Jr, earlier directed the police legal service to spell out the procedures in implementing arrest orders issued by the judiciary and other government institutions mandated with powers to issue arrest orders. In the case of the "arrest orders" issued recently by the Senate for people it cited for contempt, Razon clarified that the PNP is yet to receive a written request on the matter. Chief Supt. Mario San Diego, director of the PNP Legal Service, has asked the Justice department through Chief State Counsel Ricardo V Paras about the propriety of implementing arrest orders issued by both houses of Congress in the exercise of contempt powers. "This matter is being studied in line with a number of arrest orders issued by Congress to persons cited for contempt for failure to attend hearings and sessions, and ordering the PNP to effect the arrest," San Diego told the DOJ. He explained that the PNP is "in a predicament where there is no clarity as to the extent of Congress' authority to effect arrest thru the PNP, and the extent of the PNP's authority to implement the arrest orders." On a number of occasions, San Diego noted, the PNP has been requested by the sergeant-at-arms of the Senate to assist in serving arrest orders to persons cited by the Senate for contempt. "We believe that police assistance to the Senate sergeant-at-arms in this case is within our law enforcement function. However, we want to be clarified if the PNP is authorized by its mandate to effect arrests of this nature," San Diego said. - GMANews.TV