VP Sara Duterte wants cases filed over father Rodrigo’s arrest 

Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed hope that charges will be filed against individuals behind the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is now detained in The Hague, Netherlands. 

The Vice President issued the statement following Senator Imee Marcos's call for the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin 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 the former chief executive. 

Marcos likewise recommended a probe into Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao for alleged usurpation of official functions. 

Sara Duterte, in response, thanked the senator for the move. 

“Ngayon gusto naming makita na ma-file-an ng kaso ‘yung mga tao na may kasalanan sa kung anong nangyari sa pagdukot kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” she said in an ambush interview in Sogod, Southern Leyte on Tuesday. 

(We want to see cases filed against the people who are responsible for what happened in the kidnapping of former President Rodrigo Duterte.) 

“Ngayon, kung sasabihin ng administrasyon na hindi ‘yun nila ginawa at hindi ‘yun political ang pagkuha nila kay Pangulong Duterte, dapat nakikita natin na may mga kaso ang mga taong ito,” she added.

(If the administration is saying that they didn't do that and what they did to former President Duterte was not political, then we should see that cases be filed against these people.) 

Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11 on a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is currently detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings during the drug war.

Marcos earlier released preliminary findings of the Senate inquiry, and stated that the arrest of the former president, based on the arrest warrant issued by the ICC, violated his rights.

The Palace and opposition figures, however, both defended the arrest as an enforcement of the law, with the President saying that the Philippines only honored its commitment with the Interpol.

The government also cited Section 17 of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law states that: 

''In the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime. Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties.” — BM, GMA Integrated News