Rodrigo Duterte’s partner Honeylet may face assault raps for allegedly hitting cop: PNP

The PNP shows photos of the police officer who sustained a large lump on the head after supposedly being hit with a cellphone by ex-Pres. Duterte’s partner, Honeylet, during the implementation of an Interpol notice on Tuesday. via Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA —  Honeylet Avanceña may face a direct assault complaint for supposedly hurting a cop during the arrest of her partner former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.

In a media briefing, the PNP showed photos of a Special Action Force officer who sustained a large lump on the head after supposedly being hit with a cellphone by Avanceña during the implementation of an Interpol notice against Duterte on Tuesday.

The officer had to be taken to the hospital, the PNP said.

“Meron po tayong mga video na magpapatunay na pinukpok po ni Ms. Honeylet ‘yong isang pulis po natin na babae na sila po ang nag-restrain doon po kay Ma’am Honeylet at sa kanilang anak para po ilayo pansamantala or mag give way,” PNP spokesperson BGen. General Jean Fajardo said.

(We have videos that will prove that Ms. Honeylet hit one of our female police officers, and they were the ones who restrained Ma’am Honeylet and her child to temporarily move aside or give way.)

Despite the supposed assault, Fajardo said the PNP exercised maximum tolerance when they assisted the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime in the arrest.

“Lahat po ng pagmumura, lahat po ng panlalait ay tinanggap po ng mga kapulisan during that time pero we exercised maximum tolerance po at wala pong nasaktan sa hanay po nila at nirespeto po lahat ng karapatan nila, including po ‘yong pagbabasa po ng Miranda Rights, pagbibigay po ng due consideration doon po sa medical needs ng ating dating pangulo,” she said.

(All the cursing, all the insults were accepted by the police during that time, but we exercised maximum tolerance and no one from their side was hurt. We respected all of their rights, including reading the Miranda Rights and giving due consideration to the medical needs of our former president.)

The International Criminal Court took Duterte into custody Wednesday to face charges over his war on drugs.

RAPS VS MEDIALDEA

Meanwhile, Fajardo said that the PNP was studying the possibility of filing an obstruction of justice charge against former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Duterte’s lawyer, after he allegedly attempted to block the former president’s transfer to an airplane that took him to The Hague.

Fajardo added that Medialdea was handcuffed due to alleged delaying tactics against the transfer.

“They insist of not allowing po ‘yong mga pulis po natin na lumapit po sa ating dating pangulo para matapos na po at madala na po siya sa bus na magdadala po sa eroplano, he refuses to accede to the request that is why no less than Gen. Torre ay hinawakan na po siya at binasahan na po siya ng kanyang karapatan na he has the right to remain silent and he is being charged for obstruction of justice po,” Fajardo said.

“Kaya siya pinosasan at dinala po sa loob po ng bus, but eventually no’ng nando’n na po siya loob ng bus ay tinanggal din naman po ‘yong posas out of human consideration,” she continued.

(They insisted on not allowing our police officers to approach our former president so that the process could be completed and he could be taken to the bus that would take him to the airplane. He refused to accede to the request, which is why none other than Gen. Torre had to hold him and inform him of his rights, that he has the right to remain silent and he is being charged with obstruction of justice. That’s why he was handcuffed and brought inside the bus, but eventually, once he was inside the bus, the handcuffs were removed out of human consideration.)