MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday confirmed that he met with International Criminal Court (ICC) officials last year to discuss protecting Filipino witnesses in the ongoing crimes against humanity case involving former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Remulla told GMA Integrated News’ Saleema Refran that former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV introduced him to ICC personnel during his tenure as Justice Secretary.
“Yes, it’s true. Trillanes introduced me to two ICC personnel, and we talked about ensuring the safety of witnesses in the ICC case,” Remulla said.
He stressed that the Department of Justice’s efforts to assist the ICC were both legally sound and morally justified. “The lives of witnesses are on the line. We have a duty to protect them as much as we can,” he explained.
The Ombudsman’s clarification came amid graft allegations from lawyer Levito Baligod, who claimed Remulla’s meeting with ICC officials caused “undue damage to government.” Baligod, representing 18 former Marines, also submitted a joint affidavit accusing ex-Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of ordering the distribution of large sums of money to various personalities.
Remulla questioned the affidavit’s validity, saying, “We will request individual affidavits from each of the 18. An affidavit must reflect the personal knowledge of the individual, not a compilation of multiple stories stitched together.”
The Ombudsman’s remarks highlight the government’s stance on witness protection in the ICC case and the legal scrutiny surrounding related allegations.
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