Pulong Duterte claims ICC warrants vs. Go, others already issued; DILG, PNP deny

Davao City lawmaker Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Wednesday alleged that arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) have been issued against Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and two former police officers.

The son of the detained former president Rodrigo Duterte said that a “highly reliable source” gave him the information.

“Wala na ba talagang katapusan ang administrasyong ito sa paggamit ng ICC bilang political weapon laban sa kanilang mga kalaban?” said Paolo in a Facebook post.

(Is there really no end to this administration's use of the ICC as a political weapon against its political rivals?)

“Wala na ba talaga kayong awa o hiya sa pinaggagawa ninyo? Huwag gamitin ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno sa pagsupil at pagpapatahimik sa mga kalaban sa pulitika para lang mapagtakpan ang mas malaking issue ng pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan,” he added.

(Have you really no compassion or sense of shame for your actions? Government agencies should not be used to suppress and silence political opponents merely to divert attention from the larger issue of the alleged misuse and theft of public funds.)

It can be recalled that former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier said that Go, a former aide of the Duterte patriarch, is the next target of an arrest warrant from the ICC.

Trillanes claimed that he received information that an arrest warrant awaits Go, tagging him as a co-conspirator of the former president for cases of crimes against humanity, murder, and attempted murder.

However, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police denied the claims of the Davao lawmaker.

“Just talked to SoJ, neither of us has received any formal notice,” said DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“The Philippine National Police has not received any official communication or documentation regarding the alleged issuance of ICC warrants. What we can say with certainty is that the PNP has always been and will remain an institution that respects and upholds the rule of law,” said the PNP in a statement.

“Should any warrants be issued by a competent authority and transmitted through proper legal channels, the Philippine National Police will implement and execute the same in accordance with the law and established protocols. We will not get ahead of the process, but we will never shy away from our duty,” it added.—LDF, GMA News