Ombudsman orders Remulla brothers, 3 others to answer Duterte arrest rap

The Remulla brothers and three other key officials allegedly involved in the supposed unlawful arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte have been ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman to respond to the criminal and administrative complaints filed by Senator Imee Marcos earlier this week.

The directive comes after the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Marcos, submitted its findings on the Philippine government’s alleged handover of Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over charges of crimes against humanity linked to his bloody anti-drug campaign.

On Friday, Marcos submitted a copy of the committee report to the Ombudsman, recommending criminal and administrative charges against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao.

The charges include alleged violations of RA 3019 or the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act," Arbitrary Detention, Usurpation of Judicial Functions, Grave Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Public Service, among others.

The Ombudsman has given the respondents 10 days from receipt of the directive to submit their counter-affidavits.

Marcos, a known Duterte ally, emphasized that the coordinated actions of these officials “constitute criminal and administrative offenses,” and urged the Ombudsman to impose appropriate sanctions if warranted.

Her panel concluded the Senate probe after three hearings, citing alleged efforts by other lawmakers to block the continuation of the investigation, prompting her appeal to the Ombudsman for intervention.

“I believe the Ombudsman is unbiased, undaunted to punish those who deserve to be punished,” she earlier said.

Marcos insists that the officials conspired to facilitate Duterte’s alleged unlawful arrest under the ICC's authority.

The officials named have denied the accusations, asserting that Duterte’s arrest followed legal procedures and that their actions were carried out within the bounds of their duties.

The 80-year-old Duterte has been in ICC custody in The Hague, Netherlands, since his 11 March arrest in Manila upon return from Hong Kong.

He faces one count of crimes against humanity in connection with 43 extrajudicial killings between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019, covering his term as Davao City mayor and as president.

Official data records over 6,000 drug-related deaths during Duterte’s presidency, though human rights groups claim the true toll could be more than 30,000, mostly from impoverished communities.