DAVAO CITY (September 18) — On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, lawyer Israelito Torreon filed an urgent omnibus motion seeking the inhibition of Acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas and the transfer of proceedings to the Mindanao Station in connection with the case filed before the Ombudsman’s Office by Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
Torreon stated that the request was submitted due to fears that Vargas might “not be so impartial” in handling the issue, claiming “reliable information” that Vargas’s wife is a classmate of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. On the same day that the motion was filed, the Ombudsman’s Office received it.
“We are invoking the voluntary inhibition provisions under the Rules of Court, knowing that there are other grounds as well because we received reliable information that the complaints we filed have already been docketed right away,” Torreon disclosed during an interview with the press.
He went on to say that Deputy Ombudsman Vargas allegedly ordered the complaints to be cancelled, despite the fact that they had already been filed.
Torreon responded that they immediately wrote to the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao to check this information, emphasizing that if accurate, it could jeopardize Vargas’ impartiality in judging the case.
“For the sake of impartiality and fairness, the acting ombudsman should refrain from handling the investigation of these cases. That is why it is critical that these cases be heard by the Ombudsman-Mindanao, as the main office is the locus criminis (place of the crime) in the cases we filed,” he stated.
He further stated that the officials implicated in the case had high-level positions in the administration. He warned that holding the hearings in Manila could make witnesses uncomfortable and endanger their safety and security, as opposed to conducting the trials in Mindanao.
Attorney Leo Delgra expressed the worry, stating that they had heard Vargas was acting “in violation of the Ombudsman’s procedure.” Delgra questioned why the already docketed case would be dismissed.
“Again, we reaffirm that Remulla’s release is simply the result of Mayor Baste Duterte serving justice in the kidnapping of PRRD. So the main case here is kidnapping,” Delgra explained.
Torreon emphasized the Ombudsman’s neutrality, citing Republic conduct No. 6770, often known as the Ombudsman Act of 1989, which allows the office to investigate any conduct or complaint involving public officials under its jurisdiction.
He also pointed to the 1987 Constitution, which states that the Ombudsman can only be removed through impeachment, emphasizing the importance of the post. He emphasized that the appointee must be a person of unquestioned integrity and impartiality, as well as a “minister of justice” whom the public relies on.
If their application is approved, Torreon stated that the proceedings will be held in Mindanao rather than Luzon. The Ombudsman will next decide whether to form a panel or assign a single investigative officer, though Torreon expects a panel will be formed due to the number of cases they filed.
If the request is denied, they intend to submit a motion for reconsideration and, if that is denied, seek alternative legal remedies.
Baste’s complaint against top officials
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, the DOJ secretary, DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty, and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PBGen were all the targets of a 160-page complaint that Baste filed before the Ombudsman on Monday. Rommel Marbil is the former PMGen of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Nicolas Torre III, former Special Envoy on Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao, Anthony Alcantara, head of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crimes, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, PNP spokesperson PBGen Jean Fajardo, and a number of John and Jane Does.
According to the complaint, the detention and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte were unconstitutional because no Philippine court issued a warrant. Baste said that the two Remullas worked directly with the ICC and Interpol to enforce what he called an “illegal implementation” of a foreign court decision.
He accused Teodoro and Año of leading the operation.
Former PNP chiefs Rommel Marbil and Nicolas Torre III were also indicted, with Torre accused of denying Duterte legal counsel and medical care while directing his forcible transfer to The Hague.
Other respondents include Lacanilao, Alcantara, Fadullon, and Fajardo, who was accused of hiding Duterte’s location.
The case involved the pilots as well as the owner of the aircraft utilized in the operation.
The allegations include eight counts of kidnapping and arbitrary detention, expulsion, usurpation of judicial duties, and administrative complaints for significant dishonesty, egregious neglect of duty, and hostility to the Republic.
