Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has dismissed the criminal and administrative complaints filed against him by Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, calling the move forum-shopping aimed at derailing his bid to become the next Ombudsman.
The complaints, filed before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao by Atty. Israelito Torreon was linked to the March 11, 2025, arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands.
Remulla, along with his brother Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and several other officials, faces accusations of kidnapping, arbitrary detention, and serious dishonesty, among other charges.
“It’s really forum-shopping and it’s meant to actually shoot down my aspiration to become Ombudsman,” Remulla said, noting that petitions questioning Duterte’s arrest are already pending before the Supreme Court, filed by the former president’s family and allies.
He added that the complaints were meant to block his application with the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), where he has yet to secure an Ombudsman clearance.
He claimed that Senator Imee Marcos, who also filed a similar case in Manila, had delayed his clearance by seeking reconsideration.
“I think the JBC can see through this kind of acts—they are trying to make it a political spectacle, but it should not be,” he stressed.
Despite the complaints, Remulla said the JBC and the President still have options. “The President can actually ask them to submit a long list or they re-open the application process if necessary, so it does not limit the President’s choices,” he said.