Ombudsman gives DOJ officials more time to answer complaint over Duterte arrest

The Office of the Ombudsman has given Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon more time to answer the criminal and administrative complaint filed against them by Senator Imee Marcos over the March 11 arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

This developed after the Ombudsman’s office, in a June 18 order, granted Ty and Fadullon’s motion seeking an extension to file counter-affidavits to the complaint accusing them of arbitrary detention, usurpation of authority, graft, perjury, and grave misconduct, among others, over Duterte’s arrest.

stemming from the President’s alleged crimes against humanity due to thousands of drug war deaths.

“Acting on the Motion for Additional Time to File Counter-Affidavit dated June 10, 2025 filed by respondents Richard Fadullon and Nicholas Ty requesting a period of 15 days from June 12, 2025 or until June 27, 2025 within which to file their respective counter-affidavits, the same is hereby granted. No motion of the same nature shall be entertained,” the Ombudsman said.

The same order gave the complainant, Senator Marcos, 10 days from the receipt of the counter-affidavits of respondents Fadullon and Ty to file a consolidated reply.

Both Ty and Fadullon were present when the arrest order issued by the International Criminal Court was served to Duterte last March 11 or upon arrival of the President from a trip in Hong Kong with his family.

Duterte has been detained in The Hague, Netherlands for 100 days so far.

The next hearing on Duterte's case is scheduled on September 23. — BM, GMA Integrated News