DOJ to represent gov’t officials in Duterte kin petitions

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) will represent government officials in the consolidated petitions on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the country's engagement with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Tuesday, March 18.

The DOJ picked up where the Office of the Solicitor General left off after it filed a manifestation with the high court seeking to recuse from the petitions that sought to compel the government to return Duterte from ICC custody in the Netherlands.

“We were given the authorization by the executive secretary to – kami na sumagot [take over]. Okay na, nabigay na namin ‘yung comment namin kahapon [We already submitted out comment yesterday],” Remulla said.

Asked if there is still a possibility to bring back Duterte to the country, the secretary replied: “Wala na ‘yun, tapos na ‘yun [It’s already nothing]. It’s a done deal already.”

Duterte was arrested with an ICC warrant over crimes against humanity in his bloody illegal drug crackdown.

In filing their petitions, Duterte’s children claimed their father was illegally arrested and detained.

READ: Rep. Duterte files petition for father’s release from ICC detention

Among the respondents in the petitions are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PGen Rommel Marbil, and PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director PGen Nicolas Torre III.