The International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor has identified eight current and former Philippine officials — including Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go, and former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II — as alleged co-perpetrators in killings tied to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, according to a court filing.
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said in a document dated Feb. 13 that detained former president Rodrigo Duterte and the alleged co-perpetrators “shared a common plan or agreement to neutralize alleged criminals in the Philippines,” including people perceived to be involved in drug use, sale, or production, through violent acts such as murder.
The filing also names Vicente Danao, the late Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, Dante Gierran, and Isidro Lapeña, as well as unnamed members of the Philippine National Police and senior government officials.
Prosecutors alleged that Duterte, Go, and law enforcement officials used police units in Davao City, non-police gunmen, and the so-called Davao Death Squad to target alleged criminals during Duterte’s mayoral tenure from June 30, 2013 to June 30, 2016.
“By means of their de jure and/or de facto authority, one or more of the Co-Perpetrators controlled a structure of power—the local police and related DDS hierarchy—that enabled them to control the will of the physical perpetrators,” the document stated.
The prosecution said Duterte, as mayor, “sat at the apex” of formal police and city structures, exercising legal control over police units in Davao City and over certain city hall employees and barangay officials who allegedly took part in or facilitated the crimes.
The filing said handlers and police allegedly supervised DDS members who carried out the killings and reported to a combination of police officials and alleged co-perpetrators — including Dela Rosa, Danao, and Go — who in turn reported to Duterte.
It added that Duterte’s approval was required for DDS members to conduct killings in the city.
Prosecutors further alleged that those who physically carried out the crimes felt compelled to follow orders or risk “being killed” or disposed of.
According to the prosecution, the alleged co-perpetrators later agreed during Duterte’s presidency to expand the plan nationwide, relying on authority, chains of command, and other mechanisms to secure compliance.
The same filing states that Duterte is “individually criminally responsible” as an indirect co-perpetrator for three counts of crimes against humanity: murders in or around Davao City during his mayoral period; killings of high-value targets during his presidency; and murders and attempted murders linked to barangay clearance operations.
Duterte, who was transferred to the ICC detention center in The Hague, Netherlands on March 11, 2025, is set to attend his confirmation hearing on Feb. 23 after being deemed fit to stand trial. (with reports from PNA)
