(Manila, 15th)—The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague has named eight current and former Philippine officials, accusing them of being co-conspirators in President Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
On Friday (February 13), the ICC prosecutor uploaded to the court’s official website a document listing these co-conspirators, with sitting Senator Ronald Dela Rosa and Christopher Go standing out as the most prominent names.
Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, was one of the main enforcers of Duterte’s anti-drug policy. He previously said he might be arrested and has not appeared in public for several months.
Go, meanwhile, is a Duterte confidant who followed Duterte both during his time as Mayor of Davao City and as President. He was re-elected to the Senate by a large margin in May last year.
Go, meanwhile, is a Duterte confidant who followed Duterte both during his time as Mayor of Davao City and as President. He was re-elected to the Senate by a large margin in May last year.
Former Philippine Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is also included on the co-conspirators list. He once served as Duterte’s defense attorney in a case involving the so-called “Davao Death Squad.”
The ICC prosecutor charges Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, alleging that his anti-drug campaign, launched during his terms as Davao mayor and as president, was linked to at least 76 murders.
It remains unclear whether these co-conspirators will be prosecuted by the ICC.
The prosecution’s document states: “There was a common plan or agreement between Duterte and his co-conspirators to ‘eliminate’ suspects inside the Philippines (including those perceived or accused of using, selling, or producing drugs) through violent crimes including murder.”
The ICC will hold a four-day pre-trial hearing starting February 23 to determine whether the prosecutor’s charges against Duterte are sufficient to proceed with a formal prosecution.
The 80-year-old Duterte previously requested an indefinite postponement of proceedings, citing health and memory issues. However, on January 26 of this year, the ICC ruled that Duterte’s health is sufficient for him to attend the pre-trial hearing, prompting Duterte to appeal this decision.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the ICC pre-trial chamber issued an 11-page decision on February 13, rejecting Duterte’s appeal and finding him fit to stand trial.
On the same day, the ICC also allowed an additional 500 applicants to participate as victims in the proceedings, bringing the number of recognized victims at this stage of the case to 539.
The ICC prosecutor charges Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, alleging that his anti-drug campaign, launched during his terms as Davao mayor and as president, was linked to at least 76 murders.
It remains unclear whether these co-conspirators will be prosecuted by the ICC.
The prosecution’s document states: “There was a common plan or agreement between Duterte and his co-conspirators to ‘eliminate’ suspects inside the Philippines (including those perceived or accused of using, selling, or producing drugs) through violent crimes including murder.”
The ICC will hold a four-day pre-trial hearing starting February 23 to determine whether the prosecutor’s charges against Duterte are sufficient to proceed with a formal prosecution.
The 80-year-old Duterte previously requested an indefinite postponement of proceedings, citing health and memory issues. However, on January 26 of this year, the ICC ruled that Duterte’s health is sufficient for him to attend the pre-trial hearing, prompting Duterte to appeal this decision.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the ICC pre-trial chamber issued an 11-page decision on February 13, rejecting Duterte’s appeal and finding him fit to stand trial.
On the same day, the ICC also allowed an additional 500 applicants to participate as victims in the proceedings, bringing the number of recognized victims at this stage of the case to 539.