Imee wants 5 gov’t officials probed over Duterte arrest
Sen. Imee Marcos on Tuesday called on the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate five government officials for their alleged roles in the arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court of former President Rodrigo Duterte, which she said was “politically motivated.”
In a press briefing where she presented the additional findings of the Senate foreign relations committee, which investigated Duterte’s arrest, Marcos said the Ombudsman must look into the possible violations supposedly committed by 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, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao.
Sought for comment, President Marcos had a brief response for reporters: “Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I disagree.”
He was interviewed in Silang, Cavite, after the commencement exercises for the Philippine National Police Academy’s Sinaglawin Class of 2025.
Senator Marcos recommended that Remulla be investigated for possible violation of Republic Act No. 3019, or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for sanctioning/causing an invalid administrative arrest against Duterte, as well as usurpation of judicial functions.
Marbil, she said, may be liable for arbitrary detention under the Revised Penal Code and violation of RA 3019 for allegedly inducing Torre to commit an illegal act.
Arbitrary detention
Interior Secretary Remulla, on the other hand, should be probed for possible arbitrary detention, violation of RA 3019 and usurpation of judicial functions, she told reporters.
Torre, she added, could face two counts of arbitrary detention—against Duterte and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea—in addition to violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly allowing himself to be persuaded by Marbil and/or Interior Secretary Remulla to violate the law.
All four officials, the senator claimed, should be held liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.
As for Lacanilao, he may possibly be liable for usurpation of official functions under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, false testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn affirmation under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
As for Justice Secretary Remulla, he downplayed the significance of the report, saying he was unsure whether it was an official committee finding.
“We did what had to be done. And it was for the best—based on our best judgment. What we did was for the good of the country,” he said, adding that he was ready to cooperate with any investigation. —WITH REPORTS FROM JULIE M. AURELIO AND JANE BAUTISTA
