Law enforcement authorities should also investigate alleged threats against Vice President Leni Robredo, not just President Duterte, on social media, according to a Palace official.
In the wake of recent police arrests of people dangling bounties for the President’s head, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said law enforcers may arrest a suspect without a warrant if they have personal knowledge the person committed the crime.
“Kung nakita po iyan ng mga alagad ng batas may obligasyon din sila na imbestigahan iyong mga taong gumagawa nito,” he said in a recent radio interview when asked if authorities will also probe the online threats to the lives of Robredo and her children.
Two persons were arrested last week in separate occasions after allegedly offering rewards to anyone who can kill the President.
A public school teacher was apprehended without a warrant by law enforcement agents in Zambales last week after he supposedly posted a tweet offering P50 million for killing the President.
Government prosecutors ruled the warrantless arrest was deemed defective but was supposedly “cured” by the suspect’s admission to the media.
A construction worker was also nabbed in Aklan last week for allegedly making a P100-million bounty for the same kill mission against the President.
Roque maintained that under the rules of court, a warrantless arrest is considered valid when the arresting officer has witnessed or has personal knowledge of the facts or circumstances that the persons to be arrested violated the law.
Apart from the hot pursuit rule, the two other grounds of warrantless arrest are when the suspect is caught in the act of committing the crime and when the person is an escaped prisoner.
“Nakasaad po sa ating rules of court na mayroon tayong warrantless arrest at isa po doon ay kung ang isang alagad ng batas ay naging witness mismo sa paggawa ng isang krimen. So, mayroon din naman po tayong tinatawag na cyber libel at saka,” he said.
The President, however, remained unfazed by such threats since he doubts the person’s capability to offer such huge reward, according to Roque.
“Hindi naman po niya sineseryoso iyong mga ganiyan dahil sino ba naman ang may kakayahan na magbigay ng P50 million,” he said.
Nonetheless, Roque said they would let the law enforcement agencies perform their job. (Genalyn Kabiling)