Cop will no longer pursue direct assault case vs Honeylet Avanceña

Honeylet Avanceña
—MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Special Action Force (SAF) officer allegedly hurt by Honeylet Avanceña, the partner of former President Rodrigo Duterte, will no longer pursue a direct assault case against her.

This was confirmed by Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo in a phone interview on Friday.

“Personal decision ng pulis na huwag nang magsampa ng kaso at ang reason nya ay kasama yun sa hazard ng kanyang trabaho,” Fajardo said.

(It’s the police officer’s personal decision not to file a case anymore because she sees it as part of the hazard of her job.)

“Kaya okay lang at magpapagaling lang daw sya at back to work na daw sya,” Fajardo added.

(That’s why it’s okay, and she’ll just recover, and then, she’ll be back to work.)

In a video shared by the PNP on Thursday, Avanceña was shown allegedly hitting the officer in the head with a cellphone.

The scene was amid tension between the authorities and the Duterte camp while the former president was being held at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Fajardo previously said “tensions and emotions were high” as law enforcers on Tuesday sought to take Duterte aboard a chartered flight to The Hague, The Netherlands.

The action was based on an arrest warrant for Duterte from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

READ: Honeylet Avanceña accused of assaulting cop with phone; case to be filed

He will stand trial before the ICC for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his administration’s war on illegal drugs.