Metro Manila, Philippines – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been urged to issue arrest warrants against the alleged co-perpetrators of former President Rodrigo Duterte in crimes against humanity for the bloody war on drugs.
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) made the appeal on Saturday, Feb. 14, after the ICC Office of the Prosecutor released a less redacted version of the document containing the charges against Duterte, including his co-conspirators.
Among those named as accomplices were Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief, and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Duterte’s long-time aide and former special assistant to the president.
“ICHRP calls for the ICC to urgently issue arrest warrants for Dela Rosa, Go and the others named so that they can also face trial, along with their boss Duterte,” ICHRP spokesperson Peter Murphy said.
“It remains abundantly clear that the Philippine judicial system is unable to prosecute these alleged co-perpetrators. While still at large they are a risk for destruction of evidence, intimidation of witnesses and also flight risks,” Murphy said.
Go and former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, another alleged co-perpetrator, have denied involvement in the drug war and the alleged crimes against humanity, according to media reports.
Dela Rosa has been absent in the Senate since November after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said an ICC warrant of arrest was issued against the lawmaker.
Following the claim last year, the justice department said it has not yet received or seen such a document.
Senate expected to discuss Dela Rosa, Go situation
If arrest warrants are issued, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson Sr. said these must go through the local court, which will issue a corresponding order to implement the arrest warrant from the foreign entity.
“Kasi dapat igalang natin ang local courts [The local courts must be respected],” Lacson said in a DWIZ interview on Saturday.
Lacson said the Senate will discuss what course of action it will take, including the possible assistance to extend to Dela Rosa and Go.
He said Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III may call a caucus and consult the senators.
Sen. Robin Padilla, a known Duterte ally, said he felt “depressed” after learning that his colleagues in the Senate minority were tagged as Duterte’s co-perpetrators.
In an interview with DWIZ on Saturday, Padilla also said Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is expected to call a meeting for the minority bloc to discuss the development.
Victims’ kin welcome naming of co-perpetrators
Meanwhile, the Rise Up for Life and for Rights, the network of victims’ families of extrajudicial killings, welcomed the move of the ICC Prosecutor to reveal Duterte’s co-perpetrators.
“We have known their names and faces as Duterte’s cohorts, but the ICC naming them feels like a gentle pat on our shoulders, as we grieve for our loved ones,” said Jane Lee, wife of victim Michael Lee, among the thousands killed in the drug war.
“We have seen and read the names of the real culprits – they who have blood on their hands for implementing a deadly policy. The world ought to know who they are,” said Dahlia Cuartero, mother of victim Jesus Cuartero III, who was accused of being a drug user and criminal.
Aside from Dela Rosa, Go, and Aguirre, ICC prosecutors said members of the “common plan” to neutralize alleged drug criminals were former high-ranking authority figures Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, Dante Gierran, and Isidro Lapeña. Cascolan died in 2023.
Duterte will have his confirmation of charges hearing on Feb. 23, to determine whether there is sufficient evidence in the charges to go into a full trial.
