Baste Duterte files another case vs Remulla, this time for disbarment
Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte wants to disbar the justice secretary and other high-ranking officials for their role in the arrest and turnover of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March.
In a complaint filed on Thursday, the younger Duterte, through his lawyer Israelito Torreon, sought the disbarment of Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon and Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty.
Torreon declined to discuss the details of the case, citing the confidentiality provision of the Rules of Court. He only said that the complaint was related to the “kidnapping” and “expulsion” of the former president to The Hague, where he is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs before the ICC.
Torre explained that Mayor Duterte’s complaint pertained to a “different subject matter” compared to the criminal and administrative cases the latter filed last month before the Office of the Ombudsman against Remulla and the other government officials, including some police officers.
Lawyers only
“This case for disbarment is concentrated only against lawyers because as you know, we also have Canons of Professional Responsibility that we have to comply with and observe,” he said.
When asked if the disbarment case was meant to block Remulla’s application to become the next Ombudsman, Torreon repeatedly said: “Hopefully,” before adding, “I do not have any qualms on the matter nor would I hide that that is one of [the reasons why] Mayor Duterte filed this case.”
But when asked to further clarify his answer, Torreon took back his initial statement, saying their aim was to make Remulla “principally … liable for the violations that he committed under the code of professional responsibility.”
“And on the side, if that would cause the blocking of his appointment, then that is one of the consequences of his actions,” he added.
Speaking to reporters at the Department of Justice, Remulla brushed aside the latest filing from the Duterte camp, again dismissing it as forum shopping.
“That’s already expected … They can’t hide their displeasure with what we’ve done or what we have sought to do for the ends of justice,” he said.
Those applying to become the next Ombudsman should have no pending cases before the agency. Remulla, however, said he has already been issued a clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman, making him qualified for the post.
