Rowegie Abanto

Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s initial appearance took place on Friday, 14 March 2025, at 14:00 hours (The Hague local time), before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court").

Article (news)

Initial appearance of Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte

ABS-CBN News

<p>DAVAO CITY(<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Sebastian &quot;Baste&quot; Duterte, the youngest son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on Monday filed criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against several top government officials and police officers over the March 11 arrest of his father.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/duterte-arrested-on-icc-warrant-over-drug-war-killings-0126">Duterte arrested on ICC warrant over drug war killings</a></div><p>In a 160-page affidavit-complaint, Baste accused Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Juan Victor &quot;Jonvic&quot; Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, and other officials of kidnapping, arbitrary detention, grave misconduct, and other violations of law in connection with the former president&#x27;s arrest at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/12/icc-prosecutor-seeks-independent-medical-review-on-duterte-1838">ICC prosecutor seeks independent medical review on Duterte</a></div><p>The complaint also named former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, and other police and justice officials as respondents.</p><p>The complaints cite nine crimes, including kidnapping, arbitrary detention, qualified direct assault, expulsion, and usurpation of judicial functions, along with administrative charges for grave misconduct.</p><p>According to the younger Duterte, his father, other family members, and former officials, including ex-Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, were allegedly accosted by law enforcers upon arrival from Hong Kong. </p><p>Authorities said the former president was presented with an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant transmitted through Interpol, but Duterte and his legal counsels rejected it as invalid under Philippine law.</p><p>The complaint states that the former president and his entourage were forcibly brought to Villamor Air Base, held under heavy guard for hours, and later flown to The Hague in the Netherlands without due process. </p><p>Duterte&#x27;s counsels also alleged that the former president was denied immediate access to medical treatment despite suffering from a serious diabetic condition.</p><p>&quot;We recited the reasons why we filed the cases and we likewise cited the reasons why they could not interpose regularity of performance of duty doon po sa ating complaint,&quot; said Atty. Israelito Torreon, one of Duterte&#x27;s lawyers.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po nila po pwedeng sasabihin na may regular performance of duty kasi nga po ‘yung pag-serve noon, hindi pa nga ‘yun red notice kundi diffusion notice lamang,&quot; he added.</p><p>Baste said he was compelled to pursue the case since his father remains detained abroad and unable to file the charges himself. </p><p>The complaint charges the respondents with multiple counts of kidnapping, arbitrary detention, direct assault, usurpation of judicial functions, and violations of the Anti-Torture Act and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.</p><p>Torreon argued that several laws were not followed, citing the 1987 Constitution, Article 59 of the Rome Statute, Articles 8 and 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.</p><p>“Kaya hindi talaga nila po pwedeng sabihin na may regular performance of duty lang ‘yung ginawa nila. Kidnapping po ‘yun, arbitrary detention and commission of other crimes.” </p><p>Torreon also emphasized Supreme Court rulings that allow the Ombudsman to proceed with complaints even if some respondents are no longer in service, so long as the alleged misconduct occurred while they held official positions.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro previously said that cooperating with the Interpol on the former president&#x27;s case was the government&#x27;s prerogative.</p><p>&quot;This is not just surrendering a Filipino citizen, this is surrendering a Filipino citizen who is accused of crimes against humanity, specifically murder,&quot; she said. -- <strong>with a report from Karen De Guzman, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uyt7dsXXA1k?&amp;t=326s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_nOIcTbFgUk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, the youngest son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on Monday filed criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against several top government officials and police officers over the March 11 arrest of his father.</p>

Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, the youngest son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on Monday filed criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against several top government officials and police officers over the March 11 arrest of his father.

Baste Duterte files kidnapping raps vs top Marcos officials, cops over father's arrest

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Baste Duterte files kidnapping raps vs top Marcos officials, cops over father's arrest

ABS-CBN News,

Eric Bernal

Published Sep 15, 2025 10:10 AM PHT

|

Updated Sep 15, 2025 02:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Baste Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte

Ombudsman

kidnapping

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