PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte assured Thursday that the authorities would keep an eye on Superintendent Maria Cristina Nobleza, the police officer involved in a failed attempt to rescue Abu Sayyaf members in Bohol last Saturday.
"She (Nobleza) will not be released at all. She's being held there for investigation. It's a continuing crime and we have so many things against her. I cannot discuss it now but it will… I'll leave it to the PNP [Philippine National Police] chief to deal with the problem in public," Duterte said in a chance interview.
Nobleza, who was arrested by police in Bohol last April 22, is currently detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Nobleza was arrested along with her alleged lover Renierlo Dongon, a suspected bomb expert, after they were intercepted by the military in Clarin, Bohol. Nobleza and Dongon reportedly tried to rescue Abu Sayyaf bandits involved in a firefight with government forces in the province.
The President admitted that he has knowledge about Nobleza's links with the bandit group, saying he had spent time gathering intelligence reports about Abu Sayyaf's connections.
"I spent time for that intelligence. They you are questioning me… We were throwing troops because we know that for a long time, but the timing was [right]," Duterte said.
"We knew all along that they will enter there," he added.
Nobleza is set to face administrative and criminal charges like obstruction of justice, illegal possession of firearms and disobedience to persons in authority before a Bohol court. (VoxPop Philippines)
