* Five officials to face criminal and administrative chargesJust two days after she vowed to bring to justice those involved in the kidnapping of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Imee Marcos made good her promise and on her return to Manila Friday personally filed the information against those who participated in the plot.
Senator Imee submitted the Chairman’s Report of the the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to the Ombudsman on Friday afternoon.
In a letter to the Ombudsman, Senator Imeestressed said that the Committee which she Chairs “uncovered acts by high-ranking government officials that likely constitute criminal and administrative offenses.”
“I am requesting that these officials, all of whom are named in the Report, be investigated, and where appropriate, prosecuted and/or sanctioned in accordance with the applicable laws, rules and regulations”, she added.
“Tina-transmit ko ang Chairman’s report na bunga ng Senate investigation on the arrest and extraordinary rendition of President Rodrigo Duterte na tinangay siya hanggang sa Hague. Mukhang maliwanag na maraming nilabag sa batas, sa saligang batas, pati sa international law,” Marcos said.
“Kaya’t mananagot, kinakailangan, kung mapatunayan ang lahat na ito ang ilan pong napaka-taas na opisyal natin,” she added.
The Committee report recommends the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao.
Specific charges were recommended for the following:
• Justice Secretary Remulla: Usurpation of Judicial Functions (Article 241 of the Revised Penal Code), violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Acts
• Maj. Gen. Torre: Arbitrary Detention (Article 124 of the Revised Penal Code), violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Grave Threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, violation of Republic Act No. 7438.
• Gen. Marbil: Arbitrary Detention (Article 124 of the Revised Penal Code), violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
Earlier, Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her thanks to Senator Imee for conducting the probe on her father’s arrest and wants those involved be formally charged.
The Senate Committee report had also reached the office of Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, lead council of former President Duterte, who acknowledged Senator’s report and investigation in relation to the former President’s case before the International Criminal Court.
Imee was auoted as saying: “Yes nagpapasalamat ako at kinilala ni Atty. Kaufman yung ating mga hearing, kahit hindi sinisiputan ay may gamit naman para sa ebidensya para maiuwi ang ating dating Pangulo at humarap sa husgadong Pilipino at hindi sa dayuhan,” adding that she is willing to submit the Chairman’s report to Duterte’s camp
In Davao City, the Presidential sister bared that she has long been not in talking terms with the President. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, she led the committee hearing on the arrest of the former chief executive.
She was making the rounds in Mindanao campaigning by herself as she had long bolted Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ following Duterte’s kidnapping. However, she said, that on many ocassions Vice President Sara, who had openly endorsed her candidacy, was with her.
