Statement of Malacañang on Ombudsman Remulla’s Plan to Revisit Drug War Cases during Duterte Admin
Malacañang reacted to the plan of Ombudsman Boying Remulla to revisit the drug war cases during the Duterte administration.
Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is currently detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. He is faced with three (3) counts of murder before the ICC as alleged “crimes against humanity” filed by the prosecutors.
The ICC recently junked the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. The ruling came with a unanimous decision of all three (3) judges of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I. The judges believe that the continued detention of the former President is necessary to ensure his attendance to the legal proceedings
Duterte’s ICC lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, previously claimed that the former President is allegedly unable to recall events, places, and even his family members because of his supposed “cognitive impairment”. Amid the claim, the ICC postponed the confirmation of charges against Duterte which was initially set last September 23.
The ICC also ordered Duterte to undergo checkup of three (3) medical experts to assess his fitness to stand trial. His camp previously claimed that a “third country” allegedly committed to host the interim release of the former President if the court will allow it. Malacañang previously claimed that the Philippine government has nothing to do with the decisions of the foreign court.
Amid the ICC detention of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Ombudsman Boying Remulla expressed the possibility that he will revisit the drug war cases during the Duterte administration. The country’s chief graft-buster was recently appointed by Pres. Bongbong Marcos among the seven applicants for Ombudsman in the shortlist submitted by the Judiciary and Bar Council (JBC).
Recently, Malacañang was asked about its comment on the plan of Ombudsman Boying Remulla to revisit the drug war cases during the Duterte administration. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro stressed the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Ang Ombudsman po kasi ay isang independent body, constitutional body so … hindi po nila kailangang mag-report sa Pangulo kung ano po ang gagawin nilang mga aksyon para po sa pagtugis sa mga maaaring may sala na mga public officials,” she said.
Based on the report, the Malacañang press official also said that it is not within the mandate of the Pres. Bongbong Marcos to seek permission over what the Ombudsman wants to do. According to her, the help needed by the chief graft-buster’s office will be provided.
“Kung ano po ang kakailanganing tulong ng Ombudsman sa mga law enforcement agencies to get the—let’s say data or facts or reports ay ‘yun naman po ay ipagkakaloob pero para po ipagpaalam pa ng Pangulo kung ano ang gagawin ng Ombudsman ay hindi po saklaw ng Pangulo ang anumang aksyon ang gagawin ng Ombudsman,” Castro expressed.
