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‘Blue notices’ is not public doc
By Nidz Godino
“Blue Notices used to collect additional information about person’s identity, location or activities in relation to criminal investigation are not made public,” Interpol press office said International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has declined to confirm reported inclusion of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and four other former and current police officers on its Blue Notice list.
“As with all notice requests, these are assessed by specialized task force to determine if they are in compliance with our Constitution and rules,” it stressed.
Interpol referred the matter to Office of the Prosecutor of International Criminal Court (ICC-OTP), supposedly made the request.
In an earlier message ICC-OTP “does not provide comment on any statements made by governments or other state representatives and is unable to verify or authenticate any documents shared by outside sources.”
“Protecting confidentiality of our work is crucial, to ensure safety of all those that office interacts with and to protect integrity of our operations,” it added.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed Dela Rosa and four others have been placed on Blue Notice list upon request of ICC-OTP.
Other four are former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, former PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and former PNP chief intelligence officer Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta.
ICC-OTP earlier formally tagged five as suspects in its ongoing investigation into Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs.
Trillanes said inclusion of five on Blue Notice list meant they would be held upon arrival in foreign country until ICC investigators arrive to conduct interview.
“Their term is interview…but actually, that’s essentially tactical interrogation… they will not be able to leave until after that interview,” Trillanes said .
He stressed inclusion in Interpol’s Blue Notice list is one of the tools ICC-OTP uses “to increase or scale up pressure for them to cooperate.”
“They’re giving these people all chances they can get so that they will not be included in the case…at the end of the day, it’s up to them,” Trillanes said.
Saying he will put his government career on the line, Albayalde is ready to face ICC-OTP tagged him as suspect in its investigation on previous administration’s war on drugs.
Albayalde, second police chief of former president Rodrigo Duterte, maintained his innocence over alleged human rights abuses marred previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
“If that will be outcome of our more than 37 years of serving our country, we can’t do anything but face it,” Albayalde said in interview.
He chided Trillanes, who made public copy of the document supposedly from ICC tagged him and four other officials as suspects.
Albayalde asked former senator if he is spokesman for ICC or playing politics for releasing what was supposed to be classified document.
“Is Trillanes playing as spokesperson of ICC now or government…we don’t know, or he is using ICC as political tool for his political personal interest,” the former PNP chief said.
Despite recent development, Albayalde expressed belief President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not change his stand that ICC has no jurisdiction over Philippines.
For Albayalde, allowing ICC into the country is slap to country’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, official of Duterte administration slammed Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra over his remark that Philippine government would not prevent ICC from questioning Filipinos linked to bloody drug war.
In statement, Salvador Panelo, who served as Duterte’s chief presidential legal counsel, said Guevarra’s stance seemed to contradict that of Marcos, who has repeatedly stated that ICC has no jurisdiction over Philippines.
“By saying Philippine government will not stop and allow ICC investigation, solicitor general is effectively conceding ICC has jurisdiction over this country, thereby not only contradicting but subverting pronouncement of PBBM ,President Bongbong Marcos on ICC,” Panelo stressed.
Guevarra asserted that while government would not “get in the way” of ICC prosecutor, it would not assist in investigation.
“Philippine government, through the President, has repeatedly stated that we have no legal duty to cooperate or to lend assistance…but that does not mean ICC prosecutor cannot continue his investigation, he can do so and he can interview these five people directly… all that we’re saying is that government will not be involved,” he said.
Document from the international tribunal said former officials of PNP were responsible for ordering of killings of drug suspects and users from 2011 to 2019.
Panelo said Guevarra had filed request for deferment of investigation before ICC, and after being denied, filed motion for reconsideration, which was again denied.
“Not realizing his colossal mistake that by making those official submissions to ICC, Philippine government in effect recognized its jurisdiction, instituted appeal in ICC, which rejected it, and chided appellant that its various pleadings filed before it are deemed to be in recognition of its jurisdiction over us,” Panelo added.
For him, there is disconnect between what principal is saying and what his agent is doing.
Meanwhile, labor group Federation of Free Workers lauded Marcos administration’s decision not to stop ICC prosecutors from investigating bloody drug war under Duterte administration.
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