Marcos could face kidnap charges – lawyer

A PROMINENT lawyer said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., along with key members of his Cabinet, could face criminal charges following the revelation of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla that exposed a government plot to abduct and deport former president Rodrigo Duterte. Lawyer Raul Lambino said Marcos, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Remulla were involved in what he called a "grand conspiracy to forcibly bring Duterte out of the country. Lambino said Remulla's own statements are proof of their involvement in an act tantamount to kidnapping under Philippine law. "This is a government-sponsored kidnapping. The President and his Cabinet members planned it, and Jonvic himself admitted to it," Lambino said in a radio interview. Remulla had admitted being ordered by Marcos to "set the wheels in motion" for Duterte's arrest a day before it happened. He said the operation was planned by him, Teodoro, Año and Marcos. Lambino said Remulla's admission contradicts Marcos' earlier denials, suggesting that the plot was orchestrated well in advance. "It's crystal clear. (Marcos) initially claimed he had no knowledge of it, that he did not cooperate. But it turns out, they had planned this for a long time, doing everything to ensure (Duterte) would be expelled from the Philippines," he said. Lambino emphasized that Remulla's statements could be admitted as direct evidence in a court case. "That's an admission from a participant, from a mastermind — proof that they indeed conspired to commit kidnapping," he said. Under Philippine law, conspiracy to commit kidnapping is a serious criminal offense, carrying severe penalties, including life imprisonment. Lambino accused the Marcos administration of leveraging state resources to eliminate Duterte and his allies instead of ensuring due process. "Their plan was simple: arrest him, detain him, and then deport him to the Netherlands," he said. He warned that the alleged plot extends beyond Duterte, targeting even his family, political allies and supporters. "That's why we are holding prayer rallies — to expose this conspiracy. They want to eradicate not just Tatay Digong, but all Dutertes and their allies, leaving no one behind," Lambino said. Political analyst and president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPSSI), Herman Tiu Laurel said it is now undeniable that the Marcos administration fully financed the ICC's "extraordinary rendition" of Duterte — including providing a private jet to bring him to The Hague. Laurel lambasted the ICC's handling of the case, accusing the tribunal of undermining fundamental legal principles. "At the very onset, the ICC blatantly violates not only due process but also the principle of 'justice delayed is justice denied' by scheduling Duterte's confirmation hearing a full seven months later, in September 2025," Laurel said. "The entire Filipino nation is rightfully enraged at the assault on national sovereignty and dignity that this ICC transgression represents," Laurel said. He warned that the political pressure demanding Duterte's immediate repatriation will intensify in the coming months. He suggested that the move to detain Duterte was not only an attack on the former leader but also an affront to Philippine sovereignty, setting a dangerous precedent for external interference in domestic affairs.