Ombudsman Grants DOJ Officials Additional Time
The Office of the Ombudsman has approved an extension request from Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, allowing them extra time to file counter-affidavits related to complaints about the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. This move gives Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon and Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty a 15-day extension to respond to the allegations.
The extension, outlined in an order dated June 18, 2025, sets the new deadline for Fadullon and Ty to submit their counter-affidavits by June 27. The Ombudsman further instructed Senator Imee Marcos, who filed the complaints, to submit a consolidated reply within ten days after receiving the officials’ counter-affidavits.
Background on the Complaints and Respondents
Senator Marcos, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, accused Fadullon and Ty of arbitrary detention and grave misconduct for allegedly assisting Interpol in enforcing an arrest order issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Duterte. Alongside these two DOJ officials, several other government figures face the same charges. These include Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III, former PNP Chief retired General Rommel Francisco Marbil, and Special Envoy on Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao.
In May, the Ombudsman ordered these officials to respond to the complaints after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s investigation. Marcos insists that the arrest of Duterte was politically motivated, citing the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant over crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.
Details of Duterte’s Arrest and Transfer
Duterte was stopped from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on March 11 after arriving from Hong Kong. Interpol enforced the ICC arrest order, leading to his temporary detention and questioning. After several hours, Duterte was allowed to board a chartered flight from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. The plane departed Manila late at night, made a stopover in Dubai, and landed in The Hague shortly after midnight Manila time.
The ICC arrest order stems from accusations filed against Duterte for alleged human rights violations during his administration’s anti-drug campaign. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led by Marcos, has been closely monitoring the situation and pushing for accountability among the officials involved.
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