Ombudsman orders Remullas, 3 more: Respond to Duterte arrest complaint

Photo from Office of the Ombudsman Philippines/Facebook

[Updated May 6, 2025, 7:10 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered five government officials to respond to the complaint filed by Senator Imee Marcos’ Committee on Foreign Relations regarding the legality of the arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Based on the order released by the Ombudsman on Tuesday, the following officials were asked to file a counter-affidavit for the administrative and criminal cases:

• Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla
• Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla
• Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil
• PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Nicolas Torre III
• Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao.

The order came after Marcos called on the Ombudsman to investigate the five officials for their alleged role in the arrest of Duterte and the former chief executive’s transfer to The Hague.

The respondents must submit their counter-affidavit, along with supporting documents, within 10 days from the receipt of the order, according to the document.

“Failure to file Counter-Affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed as waiver of respondents’ right to submit controverting evidence and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly,” it added.

Last May 2, Marcos announced that she transmitted a copy of her committee report to the Ombudsman.

The lady senator said that they “uncovered acts by high-ranking government officials which very likely constitute criminal and administrative offenses,” during her panel’s probe on Duterte’s arrest.

She revealed that there is a basis to conclude that Justice Secretary Remulla is liable for “usurpation of judicial functions under Article 241 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”  and “administrative offense of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Services.”

Marcos added that the younger Remulla should be held responsible for violation of RA No. 3019 and Arbitrary Detention, as well as Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

Similarly, the senator said Marbil should be held liable for Arbitrary Detention, and Grave Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

Torre, on the other hand, reportedly violated the Arbitrary Detention, Grave Threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, Grave Misconduct and Conduct of Prejudicial to the Best Interest of Service.

For Lacanilao, Marcos said he should be held accountable for usurpation of Official Functions, False Testimony in other cases and Perjury in Solemn Affirmation, Grave Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

Last March 11, Duterte was served an arrest warrant from the ICC over alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s brutal drug war.

Senate probe findings

On March 20, Marcos’ Senate panel began its inquiry into the controversial arrest of the former chief executive.

In the same hearing, Torre admitted that it was necessary to use force during Duterte’s arrest since the latter’s camp would not go with the authorities voluntarily after “convincing them the whole day.”

During the April 10 hearing, Lacanilao was cited for contempt by the panel for lying after repeatedly stating that he was not aware whether or not Duterte was brought to a local court before he was transported to Netherlands.

After several hours of Lacanilao’s “unauthorized detention,” however,  Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero ordered the envoy’s release “both as a matter of regularity and out of humanitarian consideration,” since the latter’s grandfather was laid to rest on April 11.

Quad comm findings on Duterte’s drug war

During a House hearing in November last year, Duterte disclosed killing six or seven people when he was Davao City mayor, noting that he roamed the city waiting for the chance to kill criminals. He also admitted planting evidence on a suspected criminal during the same period “as part of their strategy.”

Aside from these, he also said that his statement on taking responsibility can be equated to an “extrajudicial confession of guilt,” in response to Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro’s question.

In the same hearing, Duterte dared the ICC to immediately begin its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s anti-drug campaign, saying he might die before the probe even begins.

Duterte is currently in The Hague, Netherlands, and attended his pre-trial hearing at the ICC via video call last March 14.

Based on reports, Duterte’s war on drugs left at least 6,000 people dead; however, human rights groups reported that the number may have reached 20,000.

(Photo courtesy of Ombudsman)