Gov’t officials may seek extension to reply on Duterte arrest allegations

The respondent officials in the complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte may seek an extension in filing their counter-affidavits, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday.

“We might have to get an extension kasi 10 days is not enough,” Remulla said in an ambush interview following a meeting with the other officials at the Department of Justice.

The Ombudsman directed Remulla and others to answer the report submitted by Senator Imee Marcos, who heads the Senate foreign relations committee, over the arrest and transfer of Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

It ordered them to answer the allegations of arbitrary detention, usurpation of judicial functions, usurpation of authority or official functions, and false testimony.

They were also told to answer the administrative complaint for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Meanwhile, the meeting was attended by Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III and Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao.

Other respondents include Interior Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla and PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil.

According to Remulla, though the respondents will file their answers separately, they agreed to adopt a common answer for the procedural issues stated in the complaint.

“We’ll just have one answer for all procedural issues aside from the other allegations that are individual, then we have an answer for everyone. For the commonly held issues, procedural issues, we will adopt a common answer,” he said.

Duterte was arrested on March 11 in Manila upon his return from Hong Kong. He was then flown to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, where he is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his administration's drug war.

His confirmation of charges hearing is scheduled on September 23, 2025.—AOL, GMA Integrated News