PNP says it exercised maximum tolerance in Duterte arrest

MANILA, Philippines — Did the Philippine National Police (PNP) use “excessive force” in arresting former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday?

The PNP on Thursday maintained that it exercised “maximum tolerance” amid tension with the ex-leader’s camp during his arrest. 

“Lahat ng pagmumura, lahat ng panlalait ay tinanggap ng kapulisan during that time pero we exercised maximum tolerance at walang nasaktan sa hanay nila,” PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing on Thursday.

(All the cursing, all the insults, the police accepted it all during that time. We exercised maximum tolerance and no one from their camp was hurt.)

“Nirespeto lahat ng karapatan nila including pagbabasa ng Miranda Rights, pagbibigay ng due consideration doon sa medical needs ng ating dating pangulo,” she added.

(All their rights were respected including the reading of the Miranda Rights, giving due consideration to the medical needs of our former president.)

Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and brought to the Villamor Air Base and eventually flown to The Hague, Netherlands on Tuesday.

His arrest was by virtue of a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s bloody war on drugs.

While authorities arranged for Duterte’s departure, his partner, Honeylet Avanceña was heard calling the officers “abusive” on an Instagram story by her daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.

Similarly, the young Duterte cried “harassment” in another Instagram story on Wednesday, showing a tear in her dress allegedly caused by the police during the tension.

“Lahat ng kanilang requests ay pinagbigyan, except doon sa hiling nila na dalhin siya sa ospital,” Fajardo stressed.

(All their requests were granted, except for their request to bring him to a hospital.)

“It is our opinion na nasunod yung proseso. We exercised maximum tolerance. Kung may mas higit pa sa maximum tolerance, yun ang ginawa ng PNP ng mga nandoon,” Fajardo added.

(It is our opinion that the process was followed. We exercised maximum tolerance. If there’s something higher than maximum tolerance, that’s what the PNP did there.)