The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday that two of its top officers are ready to face any complaints or charges that may be filed against them. This is connected to the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Here’s what happened:
Senator Imee Marcos, the sister of the current president, wants the Office of the Ombudsman (the government office that checks if officials are doing something wrong) to investigate PNP Chief General Rommel Marbil and CIDG Chief General Nicolas Torre III. She thinks they may have broken some laws when they helped with Duterte’s arrest.
But the PNP says they’re not worried.
“They’re ready to answer any questions or charges,” said Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, who speaks for the PNP. She also said that they followed the law and only helped another group called the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime.
This group asked for help because there was a “red diffusion” notice from Interpol. That means an international alert to arrest someone. So, the PNP says they were just doing their job by helping carry it out.
“They acted according to the law and did what their job tells them to do,” Fajardo explained.
What Senator Marcos Is Saying
Senator Marcos showed new findings from a Senate investigation and gave a list of rules she thinks Marbil and Torre may have broken.
Here are the accusations:
Against General Marbil:
-
Arbitrary detention (which means holding someone without legal reason).
-
Breaking an anti-corruption law (RA 3019) by possibly pressuring General Torre to do something illegal.
-
Grave misconduct and bad behavior not fit for a public official.
Against General Torre:
-
Two counts of arbitrary detention – for holding former President Duterte and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea without proper legal reasons.
-
Violating RA 7438 by:
-
Not letting Vice President Sara Duterte visit her father.
-
Forcing Duterte’s lawyers to leave him during detention.
-
-
Also accused of being pressured to do illegal acts by Marbil and/or Interior Secretary Remulla.
-
Grave misconduct and conduct that harms public trust.
