THE HAGUE, Netherlands — In a major development ahead of the upcoming confirmation of charges hearing, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has publicly identified eight former and current high-ranking Philippine officials as alleged “co-perpetrators” in the brutal war on drugs led by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The disclosure was made in a “lesser redacted” version of the Office of the Prosecutor’s (OTP) pre-confirmation brief, made public on Saturday, February 14, 2025. The document identifies these individuals as part of a “hierarchy” that wielded authority over hitmen involved in widespread killings.
The “Co-Perpetrators” List The OTP identified the following individuals as key figures who allegedly shared a “common plan” to neutralize suspected criminals:
- Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa: Former PNP Chief and architect of “Project Double Barrel.”
- Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go: Former Special Assistant to the President; accused of facilitating a “rewards system” for killings.
- Vitaliano Aguirre II: Former Justice Secretary; allegedly provided legal assistance to protect those carrying out the campaign.
- Oscar Albayalde: Former PNP Chief.
- Camilo Cascolan: Former PNP Chief (now deceased).
- Isidro Lapeña: Former PDEA Chief and former Davao City police chief.
- Vicente Danao Jr.: Former Davao City police chief and former PNP counterintelligence chief.
- Dante Gierran: Former NBI Director.
Key Allegations in the ICC Document
- The “DDS” Connection: The document alleges that the national drug war was a scaled-up version of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), which followed a similarly hierarchical structure with Duterte at the top.
- Command and Control: The OTP claims that Dela Rosa, Go, and Danao acted as intermediaries who reported directly to Duterte, with the President’s approval required for specific killings.
- The “Neutralization” Plan: The group is alleged to have agreed upon a plan to “neutralize” suspected drug users and peddlers through violent crimes, including murder.
- Specific Victims: The brief mentions high-profile cases, including the 2017 killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, the jailhouse deaths of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and Raul Yap, and the killing of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.
Legal Implications and Arrest Warrants While the naming of these individuals is a significant step, legal experts caution that it does not mean arrest warrants are imminent.
- Prosecutorial Strategy: ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti stated that while warrants are “highly likely,” the OTP retains discretion on whom to charge based on the strategy of going after the “most responsible.”
- Confidentiality: If warrants are issued, they will likely be kept confidential to ensure successful enforcement.
- Separate Trials: The co-perpetrators would not be tried in the same case as Duterte, who is specifically charged with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity involving 76 specific victims.
Responses from Manila
- The Defense: Duterte’s lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, dismissed the allegations as “completely lacking in truth,” noting that Duterte has known the identities on the list for a year and kept them confidential as required by the court.
- Opposition: Former Senator Leila de Lima remarked that the disclosure “made the world smaller” for Duterte’s associates, warning that “justice will always catch up with them.”
- Senators’ Status: Senator Dela Rosa has reportedly been in hiding since November following rumors of a warrant.
The confirmation of charges hearing is set to begin on February 23, 2026, in The Hague. At that stage, the Pre-Trial Chamber will determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to a full trial against the former President.