More ICC warrants possible by end of year or early 2026 - Trillanes

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV said additional arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against two sitting senators and a former national police chief could be issued before the year ends or by early 2026 for their alleged involvement in the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war.

In an interview with The Newsmaker, Trillanes mentioned former Philippine National Police chief now Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, and former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde who may soon face charges.

“Si Bato de la Rosa, ano na ‘yan, it’s just a matter of a few months bago lumabas ‘yung warrant niya. Susunod ‘yan si Bong Go, tapos baka si Albayalde ang pangatlo,” he said.

[Translation: Bato dela Rosa’s warrant could come out in a few months. Bong Go will follow, and Albayalde could be the third.]

He said his information was based on engagements with the ICC.

“The earliest would be the end of the year kay [for] Bato. Pero [But] most likely, early next year,” he said.

Trillanes, who first filed a communication with the ICC in 2017, said the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte and his subordinates aims to establish that the extrajudicial killings were “widespread and systematic.”

The ICC previously issued arrest warrants against Duterte for three counts of murder as crimes against humanity, covering separate periods during his time as Davao City mayor and president.

Trillanes said testimonies from former police insiders, such as ex-official Royina Garma and whistleblower Arturo Lascañas, would play a crucial role in strengthening the cases.

He also dismissed the Duterte family’s claim that the former president is unfit to stand trial, saying information he obtained during his recent visit to The Hague, Netherlands showed Duterte is in stable condition and receiving proper care.