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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Baste Duterte asks acting Ombudsman to inhibit from handling cases over FPRRD arrest

Baste Duterte asks acting Ombudsman to inhibit from handling cases over FPRRD arrest

Published Sep 17, 2025 04:34 pm
Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s camp filed on Wednesday, Sept. 17, an urgent omnibus motion seeking the inhibition of acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas from handling cases against high-ranking government officials over the March arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court.
Mayor Duterte, through legal counsel Israelito Torreon, requested that the hearing for the case be conducted at the Office of the Ombudsman’s Mindanao station but did not disclose the reason for this request.
On Monday, Sept. 15, Mayor Duterte filed multiple charges before the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao against Interior and Local Government Secretary Juan Victor Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, former Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Police Major Gen. Nicolas Torre III, several officials from the justice and police sectors, and unnamed pilots and the owner of the Gulfstream G550 that took former President Duterte to The Hague.
Complaints include kidnapping, arbitrary detention, qualified direct assault, usurpation of judicial functions, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, disloyalty to the Philippines and the Filipino people, grave abuse of authority, and violations of the Anti-Torture Act and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, among others.
The complaint stemmed from events that Mayor Duterte said unfolded shortly after his father, partner Honeylet Avanceña, and daughter Veronica Duterte landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from Hong Kong on March 11. He said that the respondents illegally arrested the Duterte patriarch.
Mayor Duterte’s complaint argued the Ombudsman has jurisdiction over both the criminal and administrative aspects under Republic Act No. 6770, the Ombudsman Law, and cites jurisprudence on the office’s “full administrative disciplinary authority.” The filing framed the case as one fit for the Ombudsman’s constitutional role as “protector of the people.”
It urged the Ombudsman to hold the officials accountable for the “pre-planned illegal arrest, detention, and expulsion” that disregarded Philippine sovereignty and constitutional guarantees.
Mayor Duterte separately filed a petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus before the Supreme Court concerning his father’s alleged detention and expulsion.
Mayor Duterte formally prayed for the respondents’ preventive suspension, arguing “evidence of guilt is strong” and their continued tenure could jeopardize witnesses and evidence.

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Davao City Ombudsman Mayor Sebastian Duterte President Duterte
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