By Claire Morales True, Managing Editor

QUEZON CITY – Ombudsman Samuel Martires has started looking into the “arrest” of former President Rodrigo Duterte as it directed two Cabinet members and three high-ranking officials to answer criminal and administrative complaints filed by Sen. Imee Marcos over the alleged unlawful arrest of the former leader.

Insisting that Duterte’s arrest was legal, Malacañang  assured that administration officials will comply with the Office of the Ombudsman’s directive requiring them to submit counter-affidavits concerning the arrest of former President Duterte.

“The administration’s actions were lawful and carried out in cooperation with Interpol,” Undersecretary and Presidential Press Officer Claire Castro said. “The government did not surrender our sovereignty — it surrendered an accused individual,” she said.

In a statement, Sen. Marcos praised the Ombudsman for his quick action and said she would continue her committee’s probe until all questions are answered relative to arrest and surrender of the former president for trial before the ICC.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should be held accountable for the arrest of former President Duterte by the International Criminal Court.

“Yes, dapat, because number 1, dili to mahitabo ang pag-kidnap kay President Duterte diri sa atoang nasod kung wala toy approval sa president (Yes, dapat, because number 1, hindi mangyayari ang pag-kidnap kay President Duterte dito sa ating bansa kung walang approval yon ng presidente.),” VP Duterte said in an interview in Kidapawan City, Cotabato where she endorsed comebacking governor Manny Pinol.

The complaints being looked into by the Ombudsman were filed by Sen. Marcos, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, as contained in the committee findings during its three hearings on the Philippine government’s handover of Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his controversial drug war.

Sen. Marcos submitted a copy of the committee’s report to the Ombudsman, recommending charges against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, his brother Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao.

The recommended criminal charges include violations of 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. The Ombudsman has given the officials 10 days to file their counter-affidavits.

Sen. Marcos, an ally of the Duterte family and opposed to some actions of her brother President Marcos, said the actions of these officials amounted to serious criminal and administrative offenses.

The investigation concluded after three hearings, where Marcos accused some Senate members of attempting to block the inquiry, prompting her to seek the Ombudsman’s intervention.

“The Ombudsman is impartial and not afraid to hold anyone accountable,” she said.

The senator said she believes the officials were working together to carry out Duterte’s arrest under the ICC’s orders, but the officials have denied any wrongdoing. They argued that the arrest was legal and carried out according to the law and regulations, within the scope of their official duties.

The 80-year-old Duterte has been in ICC custody in The Hague since his arrest in Manila on 11 March. He faces charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings of at least 43 people between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 during his terms as Davao City mayor and president.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao to submit a counter-affidavit in response to the complaint filed by Senator Imee Marcos.

Senator Marcos petitioned Martires to hold these officials accountable for graft, grave misconduct, usurpation of judicial functions, and arbitrary detention.

“Failure to file a counter-affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed a waiver of respondents’ right to submit controverting evidence, and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly,” the document stated.