By Junex Doronio
MANILA — At the end of the day, it’s still up to the Philippines’ judicial authorities and law enforcers if they will implement the “red notice” by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) against persons involved in the Duterte administration’s “bloody” campaign against illegal drugs.
This was clarified by Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, saying this would be the country’s position should Interpol agree with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the latter issues a warrant of arrest against the relevant personalities.
“Assuming na tatanggapin ng Interpol ‘yan at magpadala ng red notice, in the final analysis, it is the Philippine authorities, judicial, law enforcement that will determine whether or not to implement it,” Vasquez pointed out during the Saturday (17 Aug 2024) News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
Police records said around 6,000 individuals were killed but human rights groups maintained that the deaths were as much as 30,000, including extra-judicial killings (EJKs).
It was learned that a red notice, as defined by Interpol, is a “request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.”
“Tanggapin mo man ‘yan bilang obligasyon mo, hindi mo puwedeng itapon, pero remember na lahat ng red notice may or may not be allowed, depending on the determination of the local authorities,” Vasquez stressed.
ia/mnm