Ombudsman to probe officials over Rody arrest

The Office of the Ombudsman has launched an investigation on five top officials of the Marcos administration over allegations of irregularity in the arrest and turnover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

In two separate orders issued yesterday, the ombudsman ordered Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and Philippine special envoy on transnational crime Ambassador Markus Lacanilao to submit within 10 days from their receipt of the order their respective counter-affidavits, together with the affidavits of their witnesses and other supporting documents.

"Failure to file 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 orders, both signed by Nellie Boguen-Golez, director of the ombudsman's Preliminary Investigation and Adjudication Board, read.