Arresting officers from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained maximum tolerance amid tensions over former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest on Tuesday.
During the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) panel discussion on Thursday, March 13, CIDG Director MGen. Nicolas Torre III addressed that he, along with other personnel from the CIDG and the PNP were subjected to physical and verbal harassment on the day the former president was arrested. Moreover, he recalled being pushed by Honeylet Avanceña, Duterte’s common-law wife.
“Physical ay tinulak ako ni Honeylet. Tinabig niya ako, at malakas ang pagkatabig niya nung nagkasalubong kami sa hallway. Nasa video naman minura ako ng kanyang anak [Kitty Duterte],” he recalled.
“At mismong si [dating] Presidente Duterte ay ni-remind niya ako [na] mag re-retire ako at aasuntuhin ako ng kanyang mga anak at kanyang mga kamag-anak after my retirement–even before my retirement tini-threaten niya ako. Okay lang ‘yan, makapal ang ating balat at kayang-kaya natin palampasin ‘yan,” he added.
Duterte’s Camp
In a series of Instagram stories earlier this week, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte claimed that her father was being denied proper healthcare. Moreover, she shared a photo of her torn shirt and described it as a “result of the harassment” of their family. Kitty said it was done by the “supposed protectors” of the country.
Maintaining Maximum Tolerance
In contrast, PNP spokesperson PBGen. Jean Fajardo said she was subjected to harsh words. But despite this, she asserted that the officers followed through with the protocols.
“Aside from MGen. Torre, I myself was also subjected to harsh words. Kaya lang ang sabi ni MGen. Torre ay maximum tolerance. Sabi ko nga, kung meron pang mas mataas sa maximum tolerance, ‘yun po yung ipinatupad natin. Kahit minura na tayo, dinuro na tayo,” Fajardo said.
“In fact, yung mga pulis natin doon ay pinagmumura din at pinagsabihan ng masasakit na salita. Si Ms Honeylet po ma’am ay pinukpok pa po sa ulo yung isang pulis natin, at nag sustain po ito ng napakalaking bukol sa kanyang noo po at dinala po sa ospital,” she added.
“Pero in spite of that ma’am wala pa rin pong nag-harm sa kanila, wala pa rin pong nanakit [ng Duterte camp] sa mga pulis natin. Hinayaan po na ganon yung mga pananalita nila at aksyon po nila sa atin,” she continued.
The Personnel Allegedly Hit by Honeylet
Fajardo described what went down at the time of the alleged assault on the PNP personnel. According to her, the officers were trying to restrain Avanceña and Veronica “Kitty” Duterte from moving forward as they were about to arrest the former president. It was at that time that Honeylet proceeded to hit her phone on the personnel's forehead.
“Makikita niyo po dyan sa video is itinatabi po sila kasi ang haba na po ng panahon na ibinigay sa kanila. It has come to a point po na nagdesisyon po si MGen. Torre na it has to stop. Kailangan na po nating kumpletuhin yung proseso,” she said.
“Kaya ang ginawa po ng mga pulis natin is itinabi po si Ms Honeylet at tsaka yung anak po niya, para makuha na po natin si dating pangulo po at madala sa bus po,” she added.
In a press conference on Thursday, Fajardo mentioned that the personnel was rushed to the hospital after a phone was pounded onto her forehead. The personnel had been released from the hospital and is prepared to file direct assault charges against Avanceña.
