MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has directed several senior government officials to submit counter-affidavits in response to criminal and administrative complaints related to the controversial arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The directive follows a request by Senator Imee Marcos, who urged the Ombudsman to investigate officials allegedly involved in Duterte’s arrest by international authorities last March. Marcos claims they may have committed graft, grave misconduct, usurpation of judicial authority, and arbitrary detention.
Named in the order are:
- Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla
- Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla
- PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil
- CIDG Chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III
- Special Envoy for Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao
They have been given 10 days from receipt of the order to submit their counter-affidavits, witness testimonies, and other supporting materials. Failure to comply will be treated as a waiver of their right to contest the charges, and the investigation will proceed without their input.
All five officials have defended the government’s actions, rejecting claims from Duterte’s camp that the arrest amounted to kidnapping.
Duterte, now 80, is facing international charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody anti-drug campaign, which left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead. A pre-trial hearing to present evidence is scheduled for September 23.
