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Headlines
Ph won't stop drug war arrests by Interpol – DOJ
By Nidz Godino
DOJ FORUM WITH SECT. JESUS CRISPIN REMULLA
"We are not in the business of blocking any movement of Interpol, unless policy is laid out, of course will go against our international commitments…kaya hindi natin ginagawa yun," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Philippine government cannot stop International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) from serving arrest warrants International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue against former president Rodrigo Duterte and several others for killing of thousands of suspects during his bloody war on drugs.
At media forum, Remulla said while Philippines is no longer member of ICC, it is still part of Interpol, to which it has obligations.
He noted that ICC and Interpol are "used to working together" and international tribunal could bring in Interpol to enforce arrest warrants.
Citing principle of comity, Remulla said Philippine government will not obstruct anything as long as it does not violate country's laws.
"Principle of comity dictates we remain friendly and do not block any legal actions they undertake…if they engage in illegal activities, then we will not tolerate that, if they violate our laws," he said.
The justice chief still would study implications of dealing with Interpol on matter but stressed there are repercussions if Philippine government moves to block its activities in the country.
"Kapag nag-issue ng warrant of arrest, it's Interpol's job to serve it, and we have job to Interpol…we are not in the business of blocking Interpol's job, to fight international crime…we respect Interpol's actions 99.9 percent of the time," Remulla said.
He also emphasized Interpol agents and officials can freely enter country visa-free.
Remulla likewise confirmed ICC's requesting assistance from government in interviewing persons of interest. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra earlier revealed ICC making such request.
Remulla said government "noted" request but did not "act favorably" on it, as country had already withdrawn from Rome Statute, treaty that established ICC.
Philippines withdrew from Rome Statute in 2019 during Duterte administration after tribunal began probe on his war on drugs.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier said Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and four other former ranking police officials have been named as suspects in ICC probe.
Trillanes had posted supposedly redacted copy of order of ICC's Office of the Prosecutor.
Others supposedly named in the document were former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Romeo Caramat Jr., former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and former PNP Intelligence Officer Eleazar Mata.
Trillanes earlier said ICC had asked Interpol to place five men on its "blue list." This means that if five leave Philippines and enter any of the 195 other Inter- pol member states, they can be held for questioning by ICC.
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