Ombudsman Orders Top Marcos Officials to Submit Counter-Affidavits Over Duterte Arrest

Manila, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has directed several high-ranking officials under the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to submit counter-affidavits in connection with the controversial arrest of former President Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte.

The directive follows a recommendation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Senator Imee Marcos, which called for an investigation into the alleged involvement of government officials in Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) on March 11.

According to Senator Marcos, those involved could face charges of graft, grave misconduct, usurpation of judicial functions, and arbitrary detention, among other possible offenses.

Among those ordered to respond are Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao.

The Ombudsman’s order states: “Failure to file a counter-affidavit within the aforesaid period shall be deemed as waiver of respondents’ right to submit controverting evidence and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly.”

The officials have been given ten days from the receipt of the order to file their respective counter-affidavits, including supporting documents and sworn statements from their witnesses.

The controversy erupted following claims by Duterte's camp that the former president was allegedly abducted in an orchestrated move to bring him before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, where he faces pending charges of crimes against humanity. The accused officials have since denied any involvement in what Duterte’s allies described as a “kidnapping.”

The developments mark a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the Marcos administration and Duterte’s allies, as legal and political ramifications continue to unfold.