Imee to Ombudsman: Probe DOJ, DILG, PNP execs over Duterte arrest

Senator Imee Marcos has called on the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Police General Rommel Marbil, and CIDG chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos made the recommendation Tuesday as she presented additional findings from the Senate foreign relations committee’s investigation into Duterte’s arrest last March 11.

In her recommendation, she said that the Ombudsman must probe these officials for allegedly committing the following:

• Justice Secretary Remulla: violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for sanctioning/causing an invalid administrative arrest against Duterte; usurpation of judicial functions; grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.
• Interior Secretary Remulla: arbitrary detention; violation of RA 3019 for inducing or persuading General Torre or General Marbil to perform an act in violation of law, rules, and regulations or an offense in connection with the official duties of the latter; grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.
• PNP chief Marbil: arbitrary detention; violation of RA 3019 for inducing or persuading General Torre to perform an act in violation of law, rules, and regulations or an offense in connection with the official duties of the latter; grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.
• CIDG chief Torre: two counts of arbitrary detention for Duterte and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; violation of RA 7438 for not allowing Duterte to be visited by Vice President Sara Duterte and for forcing Duterte’s lawyers to leave him; violation of RA 3019 for allowing himself to be induced or persuaded by Gen. Marbil and/or Interior Secretary Remulla to perform an act in violation of law, rules, and regulations or an offense in connection with his official duties, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.

Justice Secretary Remulla said he was ready to face the Ombudsman.

“Hindi ko nga alam kung totoong committee report niya ‘yung lumalabas o ano ‘to eh. So, we welcome the development. Hindi naman tayo natatakot diyan,” he told reporters.

(I don't even know if what came out was a real committee report. So, we welcome the development. We’re not afraid of that.) 

“Ginawa namin ‘yung dapat gawin [we did what we have to do]. It’s…to our best judgment, what’s good for the country, it’s what we do,” he added. 

Interior Secretary Remulla also reacted to Marcos' recommendation.

"I’m happy that she believes in due process unlike the people she is defending," said the DILG chief.

When asked if he also believes that there were violations committed during Duterte’s arrest, he replied, “Well, it’s due process. We’ll have a good chance to defend ourselves if it goes there.” 

“I have nothing to hide,” he added.

According to the report of GMA Integrated News’ Tina Panganiban-Perez, Marbil declined to comment as he has not yet read the Imee-led committee’s recommendations.

GMA News Online also sought comment from Torre but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Marcos has also recommended a probe into Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao for alleged 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.

'Politically motivated'

Apart from the charges against the government and PNP officials, the committee led by Marcos also included in its findings that the arrest of the former president was “politically motivated” and is part of a “whole-of-government effort to bring down the Dutertes.” 

“Maliwanag, ang pag-aresto kay dating Pangulo ay bahagi ng malawakang pagsisikap ng gobyerno na pabagsakin ang mga Duterte bago mag-2028 election pa,” Marcos said. 

(It is clear that the arrest is part of a government plan to bring down the Dutertes before the 2028 elections.)

The senator claimed that the “first attempt” to bring down the Dutertes was through the controversial people’s initiative, which she said was meant to “prevent them from returning to the presidency in 2028.” 

When the people’s initiative failed, Marcos said that’s when the House of Representatives launched the “attacks” against the former president through investigations into the extrajudicial killings. 

It started with the House committee on human rights, then expanded into a QuadCommittee, she noted. 

Marcos also claimed that the political motivation behind Duterte’s arrest was confirmed by the “Mid-Election Final Campaign Sprint Action Plan” of Lakas-CMD.

This plan, she said, was presented during their gathering last April 22 where it described the “Oplan Horus”— an operation which supposedly launched last April 2024 “meant to bring down the two Dutertes.” 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. disagreed with the findings of her older sister, which claimed that there is a “whole-of-government effort to bring down the Dutertes.''

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. I disagree,” the President said in an ambush interview. 

'Not happy'

The senator also claimed that the necessary votes to impeach the vice president were secured through “soft projects” like social aid programs AICS, AKAP, and TUPAD. 

Another part of the plan detailed how to fast-track the impeachment of the Vice President and get the necessary votes in the Senate through the distribution of projects that are “For Later Release” as a reward to senators, she said.

GMA News Online sought the comment of Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero on Imee’s claims, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

Asked if she thinks the President allowed this alleged plan by the government to happen, Marcos said she cannot ascertain. 

“Hindi ko alam. Inako ni SOJ Boying Remulla na siya nag-utos. Ngayon hindi ko alam kasi isang banda masasabing alter ego ang bawat miyembro ng Gabinete. Sa ibang banda naman, kusang ginawa ni Secretary of Justice,” Marcos said. 

(I don't know. Justice Secretary Remulla admitted it was he who gave the order. Now I cannot ascertain because on one hand, every Cabinet secretary is an alter ego of the President. On the other hand, [maybe] Secretary Remulla acted on his own.]

On her relationship with the President amid these findings, Marcos said she is “sure he’s not happy.” 

“Haven’t seen him in ages. I’m sure he’s not happy. I’m certainly miserable about this development,” she said.  

‘Oppose ICC warrant’

At the same press conference, Marcos vowed to oppose the alleged warrant of arrest that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will issue against Vice President Sara Duterte and other former police officials.

She cited rumors that the ICC will issue a warrant of arrest against Sara “immediately” and that there was a draft warrant against five police officers, including former PNP chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

“Alam natin si VP Sara nandun sa listahan pero alam ko na nasa ibaba siya dun sa mga pinangalanan. Ngunit ilang araw nakalipas may mga report na siya ang uunahin,” Marcos said.

(We know that VP Sara is included in the list but I know that she is at the bottom of those names mentioned. But there are reports that she would be prioritized.)

“Let me make it clear, I will oppose that warrant with everything I have,” she added.

Asked to expound on her commitment to block the issuance of ICC arrest warrants against the Vice President and the others, Marcos said she is just protecting the sovereignty of the Philippines.

“Wala tayo balak isuko ang soberenya ng Pilipinas at ibalewala ang ating husgado (We won’t surrender the sovereignty of our country and disregard our courts),” she said.

Although these are just based on sources, Marcos said “we have to pay heed” as she noted that “in the past two years these rumors and suspicions eventually turn out to be true.”

In an interview in Carcar, Cebu last Monday, Vice President Duterte said she already knew that she is on the list of individuals that might be ordered arrested by the ICC.

According to the Vice President, there are other names that are included in the list of persons who could possibly be ordered arrested by the ICC.

“Hindi lang ako, malayo pa ang pangalan ko doon. Ang nauna sa mga pangalan doon ay si Senator Bato dela Rosa, dating PNP chief Albayalde, at dating Police General na si Danao at Police General Caramat. Naroon din ang pangalan ni Bong Go. Mauna muna sila, bago ako,” she said.

(It's not just me; my name is in the bottom part of the list. The names ahead of mine include Senator Bato dela Rosa, former Chief Albayalde, former Police General Danao, and Police General Caraman. Bong Go's name is also there. They'll come first before me.) — with Tina Panganiban-Perez and Giselle Ombay/VAL/RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News