PNP to file case against Duterte's partner Honeylet Avanceña for allegedly assaulting officer

The alleged attack happened as police officers were trying to move Avanceña and her daughter Veronica aside so the authorities could get to Duterte.

"Nag-sustain po ito ng napakalaking bukol sa kanyang noo at dinala sa ospital," Fajardo said of the officer.

However, she stressed that no harm came to Avanceña and her daughter.

"In spite of that, wala pa rin pong nag-harm sa kanila. Wala pong nanakit sa mga pulis natin at hinayaan po na ganun 'yung mga pananalita nila at action nila sa atin," she added.

The PNP then provided pictures of the SAF officer, showing her lying in a stretcher with a bandage on her forehead.

They also showed a video of the exact moment Avanceña hit the woman with her phone as she was being moved aside during the arrest. Amid the mayhem, she could also be heard reprimanding the police.

Makikita sa video kung paano hinampas ni Honeylet Avanceña, common-law wife ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ang noo ng SAF personnel gamit ang cellphone habang hinaharang siya upang hindi makalapit kay dating pangulong Duterte habang isinisilbi ang ICC arrest warrant. pic.twitter.com/897AXWn6VR

— PIA Desk (@PIADesk) March 13, 2025

"Kita niyo po diyan sa video, itinatabi po sila kasi ang haba na ng panahon na binigay sa kanila and it has come to a point na nagdesisyon si [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III] na it has to stop. Kailangan na po nating kumpletuhin 'yung proseso," Fajardo said.

"Kaya ang ginawa ng mga pulis natin, itinabi si Ms. Honeylet tsaka 'yung anak niya para makuha na po natin si dating pangulo at madala sa bus," she added.

Apart from the SAF officer, Torre said that Avanceña pushed him while Veronica cussed him out.

The PNP is also planning to file a complaint against Duterte's legal counsel, Salvador Medialdea, for obstruction of justice after he allegedly tried to block the arrest.

Torre said that he tried to warn Medialdea against obstructing the procedure, but his non-compliance forced the PNP to handcuff him.

"Binigyan ko siya ng warning na, 'Sir, tapos na ito, kanina pa ang usapan kaya sumakay kayo muna sa eroplano at saka na lang natin pag-usapan ang iba pa sa husgado na.' Si Medialdea, he dared me to arrest him, and I did, so binasahan ko siya ng kanyang karapatan at inarrest ko siya for [violation of Presidential Decree No. 1829]," Torre recounted.

"Hindi tayo patatalo. We do believe na talagang the majesty of the law has to reign supreme. Dapat masunod ang batas," he stressed.

According to Torre, it took 12 hours to arrest Duterte.

Avanceña and Medialdea have yet to give a statement on the PNP's possible lawsuit against them.

Duterte is now under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) after he arrived in the Netherlands at 11:54 p.m. (Philippine time) on March 12, as confirmed by ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah.

As stated in the warrant obtained by The Philippine STAR, Duterte was apprehended for murder, torture, and rape—which are part of the 15 forms of crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute—in connection with his administration's bloody war on drugs called Oplan Tokhang that saw the execution of thousands of suspected drug peddlers, users, and small-time criminals.

In a press briefing, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. explained that the former Davao mayor was arrested in "compliance with our commitments to Interpol," which had asked for their help.

"If we don't do that, they will no longer help us with other cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad. This is what the international community expects of us as the leader of a democratic country that is part of the community of nations," he said.