Ombudsman denies giving Imee Marcos special treatment

Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Friday denied giving Senator Imee Marcos special treatment in the complaint she filed on the arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“We did not give, or I did not, give special treatment to Imee na i-entertain na sinasabi nila, ano ito? Masamang timing parang pulitika. Hindi naman ako pulitiko eh,” Martires said in an interview with the media.

(We did not give, or I did not, give special treatment to Imee. What is this? Bad timing? Politics? I’m not even a politician.)

Last week, Marcos submitted to the office a chairman’s report which states that the inquiry of her “committee uncovered acts by high-ranking government officials which very likely constitute criminal and administrative offenses."

On Tuesday, the Ombudsman ordered the respondent government officials to answer the complaint.

Following this, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla questioned the haste as well as the lack of fact-finding procedures of the Ombudsman, saying that the rules were seemingly not followed.

Remulla also noted that what was filed was a chairman’s report and not a committee report.

However, Martires said that Marcos’ complaint was similar to the complaints filed in the Pharmally case.

Meanwhile, Martires said that the fact-finding investigation proceedings in the Ombudsman were removed in April.

“I’m not giving any special treatment to anyone. Kasi ang rule namin, once the case is filed, docket it, then raffle to a bureau. Let the bureau now raffle sa kanyang lawyer under that bureau, di ba?” Martires said.

“Now the lawyer is now mandated upon receipt of the complaint to issue an order to file a counter-affidavit,” he added.

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.—LDF, GMA Integrated News