MANILA – A Special Action Force (SAF) member who was struck by a cellphone by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, will not pursue legal action.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, the police official opted not to continue with her earlier plan to press charges against Avanceña.
“Nakausap ko po si (PNP-SAF director) General (Mark) Pespes at nakausap po niya yung pulis na nasaktan po, at personal na desisyon po nung pulis na huwag ng magsampa ng kaso,” Fajardo said in an interview with DZBB AM radio on Friday.
“Ang reason niya para hindi na magsampa ng kaso ay kasama ‘yon sa hazard ng kaniyang trabaho. Kaya okay lang at magpapagaling na lang daw siya at back to work,” she added.
Fajardo earlier said the said SAF member was planning to file a case against Avanceña after sustaining an head injury during the implementation of the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Duterte.
“Yung pulis na nasaktan at nagkaroon ng injury sa ulo po,” Fajardo said. “Meron po tayong mga videos na magpapatunay na pinukpok po ni Ms. Honeylet yung isang pulis po natin na babae.”
“Napakalaki po ng bukol ng pulis natin. Dinala po yun sa ospital,” she added.
Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III, for his part, said he had also experienced “harassment” from Avanceña, adding that Veronica “Kitty” Duterte also cursed at him.
Torre also said the former president threatened him that his children will get back at him even before he retires from police service.
“Physical po ay itinulak ako ni Honeylet, tinabig niya ako at malakas ang pagkatabig niya noong nagkasalubong kami sa hallway; nasa video naman minura ako ng kaniyang anak; at mismong si Presidente Duterte ay ni-remind niya ako magre-retire ako at aasuntuhin ako ng kaniyang mga anak at ng kaniyang mga kamag-anak after my retirement, even before my retirement – tinrethen niya ako but everything is okay lang iyan,” Torre said.
On Tuesday morning, authorities served a warrant of arrest from the ICC against Duterte for crimes against humanity in connection with his drug war. The former President has been turned over to the ICC in The Hague in Netherlands./PN
