(Eagle News) – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday that the Philippine National Police (PNP) was less likely to abuse the subpoena powers granted by the state as such would only be exercised in “extreme circumstances.”
President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Friday Republic Act No. 10973 granting subpoena powers to only three top PNP officials — the PNP chief, the director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the CIDG deputy director.
“The fact that only three people can sign it only means that it would not be resorted (to) as often that people might expect. So it bolsters the power of the police to conduct investigations properly but it would not be a common thing,” Roque said.
According to the Palace spokesperson, if an individual summoned would not cooperate, the PNP could only ask a court to cite him or her for indirect contempt.
“It has to go up to the chain of command if you want to subpoena so you would have to make a request. So I’m sure the police will reserve the exercise of the subpoena powers when there’s really an absolute willingness to cooperate in the ongoing investigation,” he noted.
