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MANILA, Philippines – Benedicto Malcontento has formally resigned as prosecutor general of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Prosecution Service (NPS).

Malcontento, an appointee of former president Rodrigo Duterte, informed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of his decision in a letter dated Oct. 16 through Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

He had gone on wellness leave shortly after his controversial decision to immediately forward a complaint filed against Duterte to the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).

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Remulla, at the time, said under the set-up, the complaint should have been first evaluated by the DOJ, which will decide whether the case merits forwarding to the OMB.

Malcontento, a fraternity brother of Duterte in the San Beda College of Law, was appointed during the time of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

He replaced Prosecutor General Victor Sepulveda who retired from the service in 2017.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon was appointed officer in charge of the NPS.