By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

HURT. A female member of the Special Action Force sustains a head injury while securing the transfer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague following his arrest upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11, 2025. A video from the Philippine National Police showed that Duterte’s partner, Honeylet Avanceña, hit the female cop to the head with a cellular phone. (Photo courtesy of PNP PIO)

MANILA – A female member of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) opted not to file charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, for hitting her with a mobile phone during a commotion amid the arrest of the former president.

PNP spokesperson and Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon) director, Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, said the move is a “personal decision” on the part of the police officer.

“Her reason is it is part of the hazards of the job. She said it’s okay and she will just take a rest and return to work once she is recovered,” Fajardo said in a phone interview.

She said the PNP shouldered the medical expenses of the injured officer.

She would also be given a commendation for her exemplary act in the line of duty, Fajardo added.

The policewoman sustained a huge lump on her forehead following the hitting incident during a commotion which ensued amid the arrest of Duterte.

Fajardo said the SAF member, whom she did not name, was brought to the hospital to treat her swollen forehead hit by Avanceña’s cellular phone inside Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on March 11.

Fajardo said the PNP exercised maximum tolerance in implementing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrant of arrest against Duterte, which was coursed through Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Fajardo said nobody from Duterte’s camp was hurt and “we respected all their rights, including the reading of Miranda rights” and that due consideration was given to Duterte’s medical needs.

She said Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the ground commander during Duterte’s arrest, is also looking into the possible filing of obstruction charges against Duterte’s lawyer, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.

She said Medialdea was handcuffed for delaying the transfer of Duterte to The Hague.

The former president is currently held at The Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen prison in the Netherlands. Duterte is set to appear before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber on Friday. (PNA)