Cop will no longer sue Honeylet Avanceña for allegedly assaulting her with cellphone
Warning: This story contains a video of the alleged attack.
The cop who was allegedly assaulted by Honeylet Avanceña—the domestic partner of former president Rodrigo Duterte—is no longer pursuing a direct assault complaint against her.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a phone interview on Friday, March 14 that it was a "personal decision" made by the female Special Action Force officer.
"Personal decision po ng pulus na 'wag na po magsampa ng kaso at ang reason niya ay kasama 'yun sa hazard po ng kanyang trabaho," she said.
According to Fajardo, the cop will just focus on her recovery in the meantime. "Okay lang at magpapagaling lang daw siya at back to work na po siya," she added.
Avanceña allegedly struck a female Special Action Force officer in the head with a cellphone during Duterte's arrest at the Villamor Air Base on March 11, when police officers were trying to move her and her daughter Veronica aside so authorities could get to the former PH leader.
"Nag-sustain po ito ng napakalaking bukol sa kanyang noo at dinala sa ospital," Fajardo said of the officer.
The PNP showed a video of the alleged attack. Amid the mayhem, she could also be heard reprimanding the police.
Fajardo stressed that no harm was done 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.
PNP previously said they were eyeing charges against Avanceña over what happened.
Duterte's arrest
Duterte was arrested on March 11. It had been years in the making, beginning in October 2016 when then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said they were watching the Philippines closely as killings under the Duterte administration were on the rise just four months since he assumed office.
As stated in the warrant obtained by The Philippine STAR, he was arrested 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.
Duterte was brought to the Villamor Air Base upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong.
He left the country at 11:03 p.m. of the same day and arrived at the Rotterdam The Hague airport at 11:54 p.m. (Philippine time) the following day.
Duterte could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
He is set to make an initial appearance before the ICC on March 14 at 14:00 (9 p.m. Philippine time).
Judges would verify his identity and the language in which he would be able to follow the proceedings. He will be informed of the charges against him and of his rights under the ICC Rome Statute.
Following this appearance, a confirmation of charges hearing will follow, during which the judges will decide whether the prosecution has presented enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
If the charges are confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.
