PNP chief Marbil to submit counter-affidavit to Ombudsman
PNP chief Rommel Marbil. Inquirer photo/Lyn Rillon.
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Wednesday said he will comply with the Ombudsman’s order to submit a counter-affidavit on the complaint filed by the Senate panel led by Senator Imee Marcos over former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest before the International Criminal Court.
READ: Ombudsman orders Remullas, 3 more: Respond to Duterte arrest complaint
Marbil made the pronouncement as he maintained that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest was “within the bounds of the law.”
“We will show that we are within the bounds of the law, the reason we are complying is because we’re just implementing the warrant of arrest (issued by the PCTC (Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes) coming from ICC,” said Marbil in a chance interview with reports.
“It is our job that any valid warrant, we will implement it,” he added.
`As soon as possible’
Asked when he plans to file his counter-affidavit, Marbil responded that he will do so “as soon as possible.”
The Ombudsman released the order on May 6 against several officials, including Marbil, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Nicolas Torre III and Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao.
The order came after Senator Marcos called on the Ombudsman to investigate the five officials for their alleged role in the arrest of Duterte and the former chief executive’s transfer to The Hague.
READ: Duterte’s ICC arrest: Separating fact from lies
The ICC currently has custody of Duterte after he was arrested and sent to The Hague for crimes against humanity he allegedly committed during his administration’s war against drugs which killed over 6,000 based on government data and at least 20,000 based on figures from human rights groups.
READ: War on drugs: The violence, scars, doubts and families it left behind
