Cop will no longer file direct assault rap vs Honeylet — PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said the cop who was allegedly hit by former president Rodrigo Duterte’s partner Honeylet Avanceña has decided not to pursue a complaint for direct assault.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said she talked to Special Action Force (SAF) chief Police Major General Mark Pespes about the decision of his personnel.

“Personal decision po ng pulis na huwag na pong magsampa ng kaso at ang reason niya ay kasama ‘yun sa hazard ng kanyang trabaho. Kaya okay lang,” Fajardo told reporters.

(It was the police officer’s personal decision not to file a case and her reason was that it was part of the hazard of her job. So it's okay.)

“Magpapagaling lang daw siya at back to work na raw po siya (She said she will recuperate and then go back to work),” she added.

According to Fajardo, the PNP shouldered the medical needs of the cop and will give her a commendation.

On Tuesday morning, authorities served a warrant of arrest from the ICC against Duterte for crimes against humanity in connection with his drug war.

The PNP said Avanceña supposedly hit the policewoman with a cellphone. The cop sustained a lump on her forehead.

The injured police officer was assisting in clearing the way for Duterte, who was about to be arrested.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Avanceña through Duterte’s former chief presidential legal counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo but they have yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

Meanwhile, the CIDG has yet to decide whether to file a complaint for obstruction of justice against former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who is currently assisting Duterte in his legal defense at the ICC.

“Pag-isipan po natin pagbalik niya, pero sa ngayon, (We’ll think about it when he returns but for now,) I’m not really bent on filing that case,” said CIDG chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III in an interview on Unang Balita.

During a discussion with Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Thursday, Torre recalled the incident involving Medialdea.

''Well, ang tingin ko, ang turning point talaga doon is noong time na talagang humarang si ES Medialdea at binigyan ko siya ng warning na talaga, 'Sir, tapos na ito, kanina pa ang usapan, kaya sumakay ka na muna sa eroplano, kayo sa eroplano at saka na natin pag-usapan ang iba pa sa husgado na,''' Torre said.

(To my mind the turning point was when ES Medialdea blocked us and I gave him a warning: 'Sir, this is done, we've talked about it, so get on the plane and we can discuss matters before the court.)

''So, nag-insist si ES Medialdea dared me to arrest him and I did. So, binasahan ko siya ng kanyang karapatan...for PD 1829 at pinosasan ko siya, kaya nung hinila ko na siya palabas, palayo na nakaposas ay, siguro nakita ni PRRD na seryoso ako at hindi tayo patatalo and we do believe na talagang the majesty of the law has to remain supreme, dapat masunod ang batas,'' he added.

(So ES Medialdea insisted and dared me to arrest him and I did. I read him his rights...PD 1829 [the law against obstruction of justice] and I handcuffed him, and when I was taking him away Duterte probably realized that I was being serious, and we will not be deterred and we do believe that the majesty of the law has to reign supreme. The law must be followed.)

The plane carrying Duterte departed the Philippines on Tuesday evening heading to The Hague in the Netherlands.

Early Thursday morning (Philippine time), Duterte entered the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison where he is set to be held while awaiting trial.

Duterte's first appearance at the ICC has been set for Friday. — with Sherylin Untalan/BAP/VBL, GMA Integrated News