Mindanao-based lawyer criticized any move to dismiss the new complaints filed by Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on Monday, September 15, against government officials of Marcos admin over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, calling it “the height of ignorance.”
“That will be the height of ignorance [kung ibabasura ang kaso],” Lawyer Israelito Torreon told DZRH in an exclusive interview.
The cases lodged with the Office of the Ombudsman include multiple counts of kidnapping, arbitrary detention, violations of custodial rights under Republic Act 7438, and usurpation of judicial functions, among others.
He argued that the current filing comes directly from Duterte’s family, with supporting affidavits from witnesses, making it separate from the Senate-referred cases linked to Sen. Imee Marcos.
"Malaking pag-iiba kasi identity of parties is not present ‘yung na-file na una yata ni Sen. [Imee] Marcos, was a referral of the findings from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. These are the cases filed by the family of the victim himself," the legal counsel emphasized.
“The two cases are not related. Walang basehan if you look at the elements of forum shopping. The charges filed are different,” he added.
Torreon stressed that these are distinct from earlier complaints, which the Ombudsman dismissed last week.
On September 12, the Ombudsman dismissed an earlier set of complaints against Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla and others, cases originally linked to a referral by Sen. Imee Marcos. Those charges included graft, arbitrary detention, grave threats, perjury, and misconduct.
While the recent filed cases includes kidnapping, arbitrary detention, and other criminal and administrative charges against government officials.
"There are 9 cases, sa kidnapping 8 counts at arbitrary detention 8 counts din. Sa violation ng Republic act 73438, yung custodial investigation, yung right to counsel 2 rights din," he said.
The cases stem from the controversial arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague last March 11, 2025.
The decision now rests with the Ombudsman.
"Hindi po pwede sa regular court, every must pass to preliminary investigation and it’s one of the public officers you can’t choose either sa Ombudsman o sa prosecutor," he said.
"Kung sa prosecutor kami kawawa naman kami dahil ang pinakaboss doon ay si Secretary Remulla," Torreon added.
On September 15, Remulla, one of the officials named, dismissed the complaint as “forum shopping” intended to derail his application as Ombudsman.
