Baste Duterte files disbarment case vs Remulla, Teodoro

Acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is continuing his legal offensive against government officials responsible for sending his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This time, Duterte, through his lawyer Israelito Torreon, filed a disbarment case against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.

According to Torreon, the four officials violated the Canons of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA), the rule that governs lawyers.

However, he refused to specify which canon was violated by Remulla, Teodoro, Ty, and Fadullon.

“That, I cannot say anymore, but you know, the Canons of Professional Responsibility, Canons 1 to the rest of the Canons, and if I mention the same, I might be violating my oath,” he explained.

The young Duterte earlier filed before the Office of the Ombudsman kidnapping, arbitrary detention, and violating the rights of persons arrested under Republic Act 7438 against the four lawyers and several other officials.

READ: Baste Duterte files raps vs 11 officials over ex-Pres. Duterte’s arrest

However, Remulla was already given a clearance by the Office of the Ombudsman that he no longer has a pending case which was submitted to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

The clearance is necessary to be considered in choosing the shortlist of applicants to the top Ombudsman post.

Torreon said they are hoping that the disbarment case will affect Remulla’s application to become the next Ombudsman.

“Hopefully. I do not have any qualms on the matter. That is one of the aims that we, that Mayor Duterte filed this case,” he said.

Sought for comment, Remulla said the case “that is already expected. They cannot hide their displeasure …I will just roll with the punches.” /cb