Executive officials to comply with Ombudsman order, defend Duterte arrest

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang said Wednesday administration officials will comply with the order of the Office of the Ombudsman to submit their response to claims of illegal arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and turnover to the International Criminal Court.

The Ombudsman directive stemmed from Senator Imee Marcos’s request to investigate high-ranking officials involved in Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in March.

Those asked to respond to criminal and administrative complaints are Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police chief PGen Rommel Marbil, PNP-CIDG chief PMGen Nicolas Torre III, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao.

“Alam naman natin po kung ano po ang kapangyarihan ng Ombudsman. Sa napakabilis pong pag-aksiyon ng Ombudsman sa reklamo pong ito ni Senator Imee Marcos, tayo naman po ay tutugon. Ang mga nasabing mga opisyal ay tutugon po at sila po ay magsa-submit ng kanilang mga counter affidavits. At muli sasabihin natin, ang kanilang mga ginawa ay naaayon sa batas,” said Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

[Translation:We recognize the power of the Ombudsman. With the swift action on Senator Imee Marcos’s complaint, the officials concerned will respond and submit their counter-affidavits]

She emphasized the legality of the officials' actions: “Their actions were in accordance with the law.”

Asked if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had issued specific directives, Castro said, “Unang-una po lagi naman pong sinasabi ng pangulo, sundin ang batas, kung ano ang procedure na valid at legal dapat lamang pong sundin.”

[Translation: The president has always said to follow the law. Whatever procedure is valid and legal, that’s what should be followed.]

Malacañang had defended the arrest, which was consistent with law and the country’s commitments as a member of Interpol.

Vice President Sara Duterte, however, said her father’s was a “culpable violation of the Constitution” and a “betrayal of public trust” for allowing foreign intervention in domestic affairs.

In response, Castro reiterated that the move was lawful and aligned with international cooperation standards.

“Unang-una po ang pamahalaan po, ang administrasyon po ay gumawa po ng hakbang na naaayon sa batas at ito po ay in cooperation with the Interpol. Ang pamahalaan, nagsuko man po kay dating Pangulong Duterte, siya po ay kinokonsiderang isang akusado, isang suspek sa crimes against humanity particularly murder na ang nagsampa rin po ay kapuwa Pilipino na diumanong biktima ng extrajudicial killings ng madugong war on drugs,” said Castro.

[Translation: The government acted in accordance with the law and in cooperation with Interpol. The former president was turned over not as a matter of surrendering sovereignty, but as an accused in a case filed by Filipino complainants who claim to be victims of extrajudicial killings under the previous administration’s drug war]

“This is not about surrendering sovereignty - it’s about turning over an accused individual,” she added.