2 months ago
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CEBU CITY — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has denied claims that police officers here have resigned in response to former president Rodrigo Duterte's arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
LtCol. Maria Theresa Macatangay, CCPO deputy city director for operations, stated that no resignations or unusual personnel movements have been reported.
She stressed that the city's police force remains committed to its mandate and continues to perform its duties without disruption.
Macatangay also confirmed that the heightened alert status imposed in Cebu City after Duterte's arrest has been lifted.
However, security forces remain on standby for possible demonstrations by both Duterte's supporters and critics.
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While the city is back to normal security levels, authorities continue to monitor public gatherings to prevent any unrest.
Similarly, the Visayas Command (Viscom) refuted social media reports alleging that soldiers had resigned over Duterte's ICC case.
LtCol. Israel Galorio, Viscom spokesman, assured that there have been no mass resignations or unusual activities within their ranks.
He emphasized that Viscom, as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), remains a professional and non-partisan organization committed to its constitutional duty of ensuring security in the Visayas region.
Both CCPO and Viscom dismissed online rumors suggesting discontent among their personnel, affirming that their forces remain intact and focused on their responsibilities.
Duterte's arrest and ICC trial
Duterte was arrested following an ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity in relation to his administration's war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of deaths, including extrajudicial killings.
According to official government data, 6,252 individuals were killed in police anti-drug operations between 2016 and 2022.
However, human rights groups and independent investigations estimate the actual death toll could be as high as 30,000, including victims of vigilante-style killings allegedly linked to law enforcement.
The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Although the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, the ICC asserts jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.
