PNP eyes charging Duterte’s partner Honeylet with assault

Honeylet Avanceña — MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police said on Thursday it plans to file a direct assault complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte’s common-law partner, Honeylet Avanceña, for allegedly hurting a police officer during the implementation of the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the case would be filed by a female Special Action Force officer who sustained a bump on her forehead after Avanceña allegedly hit her with a cell phone.

The policewoman, who was not identified, was taken to a medical facility and was eventually discharged.

The incident happened last Tuesday at Villamor Air Base as police forces arrested Duterte on the ICC’s orders for crimes against humanity related to his antidrug war.

READ: ICC: Rodrigo Duterte being held at detention center in Scheveningen

READ: Rodrigo Duterte accepts responsibility for drug war as ICC detains him

Maximum tolerance

The PNP Public Information Office released a video showing the commotion as police forces tried to separate Duterte from Avanceña and his youngest daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte and transfer him to a vehicle that would take him to the plane bound for The Hague.

“We have videos showing that Miss Honeylet hit one of our female police officers tasked to restrain Ma’am Honeylet and their daughter to get them to give way,” Fajardo said.

She added that policemen exercised maximum tolerance even as they endured verbal abuse from Duterte’s camp. “Nobody got hurt from their side and their rights were also respected,” she said in Filipino.

Obstruction of justice

The PNP is also looking to file obstruction of justice charges against Duterte’s lawyer and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea for allegedly preventing authorities from arresting the former president.

Fajardo confirmed reports that Medialdea was handcuffed on orders of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III after he allegedly tried to stop Duterte’s transfer to the aircraft.

The handcuffs were removed after Medialdea joined the former president inside the coaster that would take them to the plane.

Duterte was placed under police custody for nearly an entire day at the military base after arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport from a trip to Hong Kong with his family earlier on Tuesday.

The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, ordered Duterte’s arrest through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), an order that President Marcos said the government had to comply with as part of the country’s commitment to Interpol.

“Interpol asked for help, and we obliged because we have commitments to the Interpol [that] we have to fulfill. If we don’t do that … they will no longer help us with other cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad,” he said in a press conference late Tuesday after Duterte’s plane took off.

Tense confrontation

On Wednesday, retired police Gen. Filmore Escobal posted on Facebook new video footage showing a confrontation between police and the Duterte camp moments before the former president boarded the plane bound for The Hague.

The high-tension interaction at times turned into a shouting match, with part of the clip showing Duterte asking Torre to wait for his two other children. Also present were Avanceña, Kitty Duterte, and Duterte’s lawyers, Medialdea and Martin Delgra.

“There will be consequences,” the former president told Torre.

“I know, sir, and I’m prepared for it. Let’s spare all of them. Show your statesmanship, sir,” Torre answered.

“What damage would it do to the government if I wait for my children?” Duterte asked.

Torre, however, remained firm that they would not be allowed inside the military base. “Just file a case against me, sir. But that will not happen tonight … They can visit you in your detention facility, sir,” he replied.

Denied entry

Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, former top aide Sen. Bong Go, lawyer Silvestre Bello III and former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana were among those refused entry to the airbase.

Delgra said Duterte’s need to see his children before leaving was only a “humane, fair request.” “If he’s going to leave here … he will be there for a long time,” he said.

“We’re just going around in circles, sir. The airfare going there is cheap,” Torre answered. When asked if he would pay for their airfare, he said, “Yes, sir!”

At the end of the clip, Duterte addressed the policemen: “I’m so unlucky …. I was once a fiscal only to be treated this way,” he said. “You soldiers know me. What is my crime? Show me just one charge of what I did wrong,” he said.