Malacañang Palace assured on Saturday that the rule of law would prevail despite the signing of a law giving the Philippine National Police (PNP) the power to issue subpoenas. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the subpoena powers would not be used against the public and that judicial process would still be followed. “We have laws in place that would address an abuse of this power,” Roque said, speaking in Filipino, in a press briefing at the Municipal Hall in Alimodian, Iloilo. The Palace official added that the subpoena power of the PNP would only be used for “indirect contempt.”“So that subpoena power will not be a reason to give them the power to arrest. On Friday, President Rodrigo Duterted signed a law allowing high officials of the PNP and its investigation arm to issue a subpoena.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 10, 2018 10:18 UTC