Dutertes asked to respond to gov’t comments on habeas corpus petition

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered the children of former President Rodrigo Duterte to file a response to the comments submitted by the government on the petition for habeas corpus they filed.

 According to SC spokesperson Camille Ting, the SC directed petitioner Davao City Mayor Sebastian  Duterte, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, and Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte to “personally file a traverse” within a non extendible period of five days from receipt of notice.

“When a court asks a party to comment or respond, it does not mean that it either granted or denied the petition or the prayer,” Ting said in a press conference.

Ting said the SC made the order after it received the consolidated compliance by the government filed by Department of Justice Officer-in-Charge Usec. Nicholas Ty.

Ty  was authorized to represent the respondents in the case following the recusal of the Office of the Solicitor General.

The ICC currently has custody of former President Duterte after he was arrested and sent to The Hague for crimes against humanity he allegedly committed during his administration’s bloody war against drugs which left at least 6,000 people dead, and human rights groups reporting at least 20,000 killed.

Three of Duterte’s children filed petitions for habeas corpus—which were then consolidated by the SC—to challenge the arrest and seek the return of their father form The Hague, Netherlands.