PNP lifts ‘heightened alert’ status after Duterte arrest

 

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it lifted the “heightened alert” status it imposed following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The PNP ordered its regional offices and national support units to be on “heightened alert” on Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of protest actions as a result of  Duterte’s arrest by virtue of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

“Lifted na, yung heightened alert natin. Normal alert na tayo doon,” PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Thursday.

(It’s been lifted, our heightened alert. We’re now on normal alert status.)

“But it does not necessarily mean na magre-relax na tayo (that we’d be relaxing now.) We will be maintaining our aggressive and active security stance. Remember, we are still preparing for the elections,” she added

Duterte was arrested on Tuesday and flown to The Hague, Netherlands to stand trial before the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s war on drugs.

The former president’s supporters have since held protest actions to demand his release.