MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has identified current and former Philippine officials, including two sitting senators, as alleged co-perpetrators in the case charging former president Rodrigo Duterte with crimes against humanity linked to his controversial war on illegal drugs.
In a Document Containing the Charges released by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor on February 13, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go were among eight individuals named as part of a purported hierarchical network that allegedly facilitated systematic killings of suspected drug offenders from Nov. 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019 — first in Davao City and later nationwide.
Also cited were former police and government officials, including former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who served as Duterte’s lawyer and later as justice secretary, and other senior law enforcement figures.
Allegations and the “Common Plan”
Prosecutors allege that Duterte and his named associates shared a “common plan” to neutralize alleged criminals, including through violent means such as murder, during both his mayoral and presidential terms. The document portrays a structured network in which police units and government officials operated under directives that allegedly ensured compliance with orders to kill.
Among the specific allegations is that handlers of suspected drug targets reported up the chain through police officials and co-perpetrators — including Dela Rosa and Go — who in turn reported to Duterte. Prosecutors said Duterte’s approval was required for members of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) to conduct killings.
Counts and Scope of Charges
The ICC document lists three distinct counts of crimes against humanity tied to multiple incidents involving killings and attempted killings during the years under investigation.
The charges are scheduled for a “confirmation of charges” hearing starting Feb. 23, where judges will determine whether the prosecution has sufficiently shown that the allegations should proceed to trial.
Responses From the Named Officials
Both Sen. Go and former Justice Secretary Aguirre have issued statements rejecting the allegations. Go described the charges as “entirely unfounded, one-sided, and unfair,” asserting that they bear no relation to his official duties while serving as Duterte’s aide and later as senator. He emphasized he never had authority over law enforcement activities related to the drug war.
Aguirre likewise denied involvement in any extrajudicial killings, insisting he did not participate in or support the implementation of the anti-drug campaign, and citing actions he took to help pursue justice for families of victims.
Duterte’s legal team has also vowed to challenge the allegations, with defense counsel describing the list of co-perpetrators as “completely lacking in truth” and planning to contest the document during the upcoming hearings.
Victims’ Relatives React
Families of drug war victims have expressed support for the ICC’s inclusion of the officials in the charges, viewing the naming of co-perpetrators as a significant step toward accountability for the thousands of deaths associated with the anti-drug campaign.
