Remulla says raps filed by FPRRD lawyer expected, forum shopping

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

Aside from Remulla also named in the complaint were Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon. (PNA file photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said the latest administrative complaint filed against him before the Supreme Court (SC) by the camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte is expected and is a case of “forum shopping.”

Lawyer Israelito Torreon has filed a disbarment case against Remulla before the Supreme Court on behalf of Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte, the ex-president’s son.

“This is not the first he filed.

He has been filing cases. Expected lang ‘yan. Kasi he lawyers for the Davao group (That is expected, as he lawyers for the Davao group),” Remulla said in an interview.

Aside from Remulla also named in the complaint were Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.

“He (Torreon) filed cases in the Supreme Court I think when PRRD was already placed in confinement at the airport, nung kinakausap pa namin (when we were still talking with him). Nag-file na s’ya ng kaso sa Supreme Court at sa ibang courts pa yata nag-file (He filed a case before the Supreme Court and in other courts),” Remulla said.

“Expected na ‘yun (That’s already expected). They can’t hide their displeasure. It’s forum shopping. I will just roll with the punches,” he said, adding that the cases are timed as the Judicial and Bar Council considers his application for Ombudsman.