NCRPO chief: No cops communicating with ICC

Nartatez, meanwhile, maintained that Metro Manila cops remain loyal to the Constitution. (File Photo: Regional Public Information Office NCRPO/Facebook)

MANILA – National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Friday no police officers in the region were communicating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) about its probe into the previous administration’s drug war.

This came after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a retired PNP chief, wrote on Facebook that one of his upperclassmen has been persuading active officers to testify against him and former president Rodrigo Duterte, as part of the ICC’s investigation.

“We have not monitored anyone who is participating in the ICC’s investigation. If there is anyone who indeed does, the government’s pronouncement regarding coordination with the ICC as stated by the DOJ (Department of Justice) is clear — that nobody, no one will coordinate with the ICC,” Nartatez said in a press briefing at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters in Camp Karingal.

Asked for further comment, the NCRPO chief said it would be better to “ask the senator himself” about this pronouncement.

The Marcos administration has repeatedly said it would not recognize the ICC as the country is no longer a member and is more than willing and capable of prosecuting erring individuals.

Duterte is facing an ICC investigation for alleged crimes against humanity over his controversial war on drugs.

Nartatez, meanwhile, maintained that Metro Manila cops remain loyal to the Constitution.

The PNP earlier maintained that it has not monitored any reports of brewing destabilization plots among its ranks, contrary to claims of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV that high-ranking police officials were recruiting personnel to join the scheme.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo earlier asked Trillanes to share information with the PNP leadership if he has evidence of the involvement of these officials in the ouster plot.

Fajardo said it would be in the “best interest” of Trillanes and “interest of the PNP” if the PNP were made aware of the information.