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MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has launched an investigation on five top officials of the Marcos administration over allegations of irregularity in the arrest and turnover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
In two separate orders issued yesterday, the ombudsman ordered Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and Philippine special envoy on transnational crime Ambassador Markus Lacanilao to submit within 10 days from their receipt of the order their respective counter-affidavits, together with the affidavits of their witnesses and other supporting documents.
“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,” the orders, both signed by Nellie Boguen-Golez, director of the ombudsman’s Preliminary Investigation and Adjudication Board, read.
“Thereafter, this case shall be deemed submitted for resolution on the basis of the evidence presented by the parties, whose presence may be dispensed with, unless otherwise required for clarificatory questioning,” both orders, having identical wording, stated.
The ombudsman said “no motion to dismiss or bill of particulars shall be entertained” in the course of the investigation.
The Remulla brothers, Marbil, Torre and Lacanilao are being investigated for criminal charges of arbitrary detention, usurpation of judicial functions, grave threats, graft, usurpation of authority or official functions, false testimony and perjury.
They are also being investigated for administrative charges of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Named as complainant in both the criminal and administrative complaints was the Senate committee on foreign relations, chaired by the President’s sister Sen. Imee Marcos.
The ombudsman started its investigation following Senator Marcos’ transmittal last Friday of a copy of the report of the Senate committee on foreign relations, which conducted hearings on Duterte’s arrest and turnover to the ICC.
In the report, the committee said it appeared that the arrest and turnover of the former president to the ICC was part of concerted efforts to weaken the political reach of Duterte family.
“As discussed previously, the arrest and turnover of FPRRD (former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) was politically motivated. It was a very important part of ‘Oplan Horus’ of the administration which was designed to politically cripple the Dutertes,” the committee report, signed by Marcos and three other pro-Duterte senators – Ronald dela Rosa, Bong Go and Robinhood Padilla – read.
“The risk that the local courts would grant the application for release of FPRRD was too much to bear because it would endanger the success of an otherwise well-planned and well-coordinated political maneuver,” it added.
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has launched an investigation on five top officials of the Marcos administration over allegations of irregularity in the arrest and turnover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
In two separate orders issued yesterday, the ombudsman ordered Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and Philippine special envoy on transnational crime Ambassador Markus Lacanilao to submit within 10 days from their receipt of the order their respective counter-affidavits, together with the affidavits of their witnesses and other supporting documents.
“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,” the orders, both signed by Nellie Boguen-Golez, director of the ombudsman’s Preliminary Investigation and Adjudication Board, read.
“Thereafter, this case shall be deemed submitted for resolution on the basis of the evidence presented by the parties, whose presence may be dispensed with, unless otherwise required for clarificatory questioning,” both orders, having identical wording, stated.
The ombudsman said “no motion to dismiss or bill of particulars shall be entertained” in the course of the investigation.
The Remulla brothers, Marbil, Torre and Lacanilao are being investigated for criminal charges of arbitrary detention, usurpation of judicial functions, grave threats, graft, usurpation of authority or official functions, false testimony and perjury.
They are also being investigated for administrative charges of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Named as complainant in both the criminal and administrative complaints was the Senate committee on foreign relations, chaired by the President’s sister Sen. Imee Marcos.
The ombudsman started its investigation following Senator Marcos’ transmittal last Friday of a copy of the report of the Senate committee on foreign relations, which conducted hearings on Duterte’s arrest and turnover to the ICC.
In the report, the committee said it appeared that the arrest and turnover of the former president to the ICC was part of concerted efforts to weaken the political reach of Duterte family.
“As discussed previously, the arrest and turnover of FPRRD (former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) was politically motivated. It was a very important part of ‘Oplan Horus’ of the administration which was designed to politically cripple the Dutertes,” the committee report, signed by Marcos and three other pro-Duterte senators – Ronald dela Rosa, Bong Go and Robinhood Padilla – read.
“The risk that the local courts would grant the application for release of FPRRD was too much to bear because it would endanger the success of an otherwise well-planned and well-coordinated political maneuver,” it added.
The former president is facing charges of crimes against humanity before the ICC in connection with his bloody war on drugs.
President Marcos had earlier said his administration did not cooperate with the ICC but had only complied with treaty obligations with the Interpol.
