A power struggle unfolds as the Ombudsman demands answers from top officials over the controversial arrest and transfer of former President Duterte to the International Criminal Court
In a stunning twist to the Duterte saga, five high-ranking Philippine officials now find themselves under the Ombudsman’s spotlight. The officials must explain their roles in what Senator Imee Marcos calls an illegal arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague.
The dramatic order, released Tuesday, gives the officials just 10 days to respond or face the consequences. This development has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, pitting powerful government figures against each other in a high-stakes legal battle.
Officials Caught in the Crossfire
The Ombudsman’s order targets five key players:
- Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla
- Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla
- Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil
- PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Nicolas Torre III
- Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao
Each must file a counter-affidavit or risk losing their chance to defend themselves. The clock is ticking.
“Failure to file Counter-Affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed as waiver of respondents’ right to submit controverting evidence,” warns the Ombudsman’s order.
From Presidential Palace to ICC Cell
The storm began on March 11, when authorities served Duterte with an ICC arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity during his bloody drug war. The former president now sits in The Hague, thousands of miles from the country he once ruled with an iron fist.
During a Senate probe led by Senator Marcos, troubling details emerged about how the arrest went down. Torre admitted they had to use force because Duterte’s camp wouldn’t cooperate “after convincing them the whole day.”
The Senate hearings also caught Lacanilao in an apparent lie when he claimed ignorance about whether Duterte was brought before a local court before his transport to the Netherlands. His testimony earned him a contempt citation, though he was later released on humanitarian grounds.
A Trail of Serious Accusations
Senator Marcos didn’t mince words about what her committee uncovered. She believes Justice Secretary Remulla usurped judicial functions and committed grave misconduct. The Interior Secretary faces allegations of arbitrary detention and violations of anti-graft laws.
Police chiefs Marbil and Torre are accused of arbitrary detention, with Torre facing additional charges of grave threats. Lacanilao stands accused of false testimony, perjury, and usurping official functions.
Duterte's Own Words Come Back to Haunt Him
Perhaps most damning are Duterte’s own admissions. In a House hearing last November, he confessed to killing “six or seven people” as Davao City mayor, even saying he “roamed the city waiting for the chance to kill criminals.” He also admitted to planting evidence on suspects.
When asked about taking responsibility for these actions, Duterte called it an “extrajudicial confession of guilt.”
The former president’s war on drugs officially claimed at least 6,000 lives. Human rights groups put the true number closer to 20,000 – each statistic representing a life cut short under his controversial policy.
As the 10-day countdown begins, all eyes turn to these five officials and their response to allegations that could derail their careers and reshape Philippine politics for years to come.
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