Baste Duterte files disbarment case vs. DOJ's Remulla, Teodoro, others

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte on Thursday filed a disbarment case with the Supreme Court (SC) against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, and other top officials over the arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Lawyer Israelito Torreon, Duterte's legal counsel, said the other respondents are Justice Undersecretary Nicky Ty and Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon.

Though he declined to divulge details, Torreon said the filing is due to a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA).

"I think you know that I could not expound on the same but this is related to the kidnapping as well as expulsion of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte towards The Hague," he said in an ambush interview.

The former president 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.

GMA News Online has asked the respondents for comment.

For his part, Remulla said he expected the filing. 

"Kasi he lawyers for the Davao group. Kaya 'yun na 'yun. Kahit the SC, siya 'yung nag-file, he filed cases in the SC I think when PRRD was already placed in confinement sa airport," he said in a briefing.

(Because he is a lawyer for the Davao group. So that's it. Even the SC, he's the one who filed, he filed cases in the SC I think when PRRD was already placed in confinement at the airport.)

He later added this is "forum shopping," a claim that Torreon denied.

Ombudsman bid

Meanwhile, Torreon expressed hope that the filing would block Remulla's application for the Ombudsman post.

"Hopefully," he said when asked whether the case will block the application.

"I do not have any qualms on the matter nor would I hide that's one of the aims that Mayor Duterte filed in this case," he added.

Asked to confirm if the intent of case was to block Remulla's bid for Ombudsman, Torreon said the principal intent was to make him liable for alleged violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA), which governs the ethical conduct of lawyers.

"On the side, if that would cause the blocking of his appointment, then that is the consequences of his actions," Torreon said.

The Justice Secretary declined to comment on this.

"I cannot comment on something I haven't read… I think that your critics will always be there. I will just roll with the punches," Remulla said.

Meanwhile, Fadullon declined to comment, also stressing that he has yet to see a copy of the complaint.

"I have to see the allegations first before I can intelligently comment on the same," he said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News