SC asks gov't officials to answer petition seeking Duterte's return

The Supreme Court (SC) en banc has directed government officials to respond to a petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking to secure the release of former President Rodrigo Duterte from the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention.

In a notice issued Friday, the SC ordered the respondents to file a memorandum on the petition within 30 days. 

The Court said the memorandum should take into consideration if the present controversy is already moot; if the SC  must exercise restraint in view of the ongoing proceedings before the ICC; and whether a writ of habeas corpus must be issued.

Named respondents to the case were former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, ex-PNP chief Francisco Marbil,  ex-PNP-CIDG Director Nicolas Torre III, ex-Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, ex-Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, ex-Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., and Philippine Center on Transnational Crime Executive Director Lt. Gen. Antonio Alcantara, Captains Johnny Gulla, and Elmo Segovia. 

"The parties are also directed to inform the Court of any developments that may be relevant to the instant case," the SC added.

In March, Veronica "Kitty" Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, and Davao City Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte sought a writ of habeas corpus to secure the release of the former president from his detention. 

The elder Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands.

Philippine officials, through the Department of Justice, previously asked the SC to deny the petitions filed by the Duterte siblings.—LDF, GMA Integrated News