The Office of the Ombudsman has directed several high-ranking officials to file a counter-affidavit within 10 days of receiving the order, in relation to the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao to submit a counter-affidavit in response to the complaint filed by Senator Imee Marcos.
Senator Marcos petitioned Martires to hold these officials accountable for graft, grave misconduct, usurpation of judicial functions, and arbitrary detention.
“Failure to file a counter-affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed a waiver of respondents’ right to submit controverting evidence, and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly,” the document stated.
On March 11, Duterte was arrested by the Philippine National Police and Interpol in a pursuit operation under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, accusing him of crimes against humanity in connection with his war on drugs.
Marcos chaired the Senate investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his turnover to the custody of the ICC. According to Marcos, during the course of the Senate inquiry, “the Committee on Foreign Relations uncovered acts by high-ranking government officials which very likely constitute criminal and administrative offenses.”
“Thus, I am requesting that these officials, all of whom are named in the report, be investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted and/or sanctioned in accordance with the applicable laws, rules, and regulations,” she stated in her letter to Martires.
