Ombudsman denies special treatment for Imee Marcos complaint

Ombudsman Samuel Martires denied giving Senator Imee Marcos special treatment regarding her complaint against government officials concerning former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court.

Martires stated that giving due course to Marcos's complaint was consistent with how complaints from former Senator Richard Gordon and Senator Risa Hontiveros on the Pharmally controversy were handled, as they also did not submit committee reports.

He emphasized that he is not a politician and that entertaining the complaint was not an act of political maneuvering or bad timing.

The Ombudsman also clarified that the fact-finding investigation phase in his office was abolished the previous month.

Martires highlighted his objective to expedite case resolution, addressing criticisms of the Ombudsman's Office taking years to resolve cases.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, a respondent in Marcos's complaint, questioned the apparent bypass of the fact-finding process and the immediate initiation of a preliminary investigation.