DOJ probing Duterte following QuadComm remarks —Remulla

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started its investigation on former President Rodrigo Duterte following his pronouncements during hearings of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday.

"Yes, our task force is doing that. Kakakausap ko lang kanina ‘yung head ng task force," Remulla said in an ambush interview when asked if the DOJ is now investigating Duterte.

(Yes, our task force is doing that. I was just talking to the head of the task force earlier.)

Remulla was referring to the task force made up of prosecutors and National Bureau of Investigation agents that was formed to investigate extrajudicial killings being linked to Duterte's drug war.

During last week's QuadComm hearing, Duterte claimed that he had killed at least six people during his time as mayor of Davao City.

The former President also claimed he had killed a lot of crooked police officials.

Asked if the DOJ will investigate Duterte’s alleged actions when he was mayor, Remulla said their investigation may overlap with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC seeks to investigate the Duterte administration’s war on drugs as well as killings made by the Davao Death Squad when he was mayor of Davao City. 

"We have to choose our strategy later on. Pag nag-overlap ‘yan sa ICC (if this overlaps with the ICC), we’ll choose our strategy,” Remulla said.

According to Remulla, he wants the charges filed with the ICC and the charges filed before Philippine courts to be different.

"We want the charges to be separate from each other. What we charge here and what the ICC charges have to be, if possible, will not overlap. Kasi even if we are not members of the ICC, the spirit of complementarity still applies,” he said.

He said they are also looking into the applicability of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

"IHL ang ating pinupuntirya ngayon kasi it is the law that the ICC is studying as well as the law that we have here. It’s the law of the ICC actually. It’s what they’re using right now," he said.

When sought for comment, Atty. Salvador Panelo, Duterte's former chief presidential legal counsel, said the government should just just file the case if they have the evidence.

"They are just engaged in relentless propaganda against him to besmirch his reputation," Panelo said in a statement.

Based on government records, around 6,200 drug suspects were killed during the Duterte administration's anti-drug operations. Human rights organizations, however, say the number may reach 30,000 due to the unreported related killings. —KBK, GMA Integrated News