Trillanes: ICC requests Interpol blue notice for PNP execs linked to drug war

MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already asked Interpol to issue a “blue notice” against five former and current high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) tagged in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Wednesday.

Trillanes said the “blue notice” request came after the ICC asked the Philippine government to interview the five ranking police officers.

The five former and current ranking police officers are Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who served as PNP chief under the Duterte administration, former PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, former PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) chief Romeo Caramat, Director of PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group Eleazar Mata, and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo.

“Kasabay nitong pagbigay ng dokumento na ito sa Philippine government ng ICC ay meron din silang request sa Interpol na isama itong limang ito doon sa blue notice kung saan maaari silang ihold sa mga iba’t ibang immigration counters kung saan man silang bansa lalabas,” he said.

(In addition to submitting this document to the Philippine government, the ICC has requested Interpol to include these five individuals in the blue notice, which could cause them to be held at various immigration counters wherever they may travel abroad.)

Blue Notice is an alert circulated to help law enforcers in member countries share information about a particular person’s activities. The subject of the Blue Notice is either a convicted or charged person, a suspect, or a witness to a crime.

Trillanes said the request of the ICC prosecutor to interview the five police officials is equivalent to a summons.

“Kung ‘di sila magko-cooperate, therefore, ‘yung ebidensya laban sa kanila ay ‘yun ang mananaig at hindi nila mabibigay ‘yung kanilang side doon sa kaso,” he said.

(If they do not cooperate, then the evidence against them will prevail, and they will not be able to present their side of the case.)

Although the Philippine government still insists that the country is no longer under the ICC’s jurisdiction, it said the ICC prosecutor could come and interview the suspects.

READ: PH gov’t can’t stop ICC from probing drug war suspects – SolGen

However, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said they are not legally bound to assist the ICC.

“The Philippine government cannot stop him from proceeding any way he wants. He can directly interview persons of interest online, through phone, by email, face to face, subject to the consent of these persons,” Guevarra told reporters.

He added: “But the ICC prosecutor cannot expect that the Philippine government will facilitate it for him.”