MANILA – The International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to issue warrants of arrest against former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio by mid-year in relation to the “war on drugs”.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he was in contact with some representatives from ICC since their preliminary examination, during the conduct of the investigation, and up to the junking of Duterte’s appeal.
“When I got this information, ano daw, late second quarter lalabas ‘yung warrant. So pwede na nating i-stretch ‘yun, sabihing middle of the year, June-July,” Trillanes said in an interview with One News’ “Storycon” on Thursday.
“The first batch isa lang, si (Rodrigo) Duterte lang, the father. Tapos second batch na ‘yung ibang principal actors. ‘Yun po ang aking pagkakaalam,” he added.
Aside from the Dutertes, also being investigated are former Philippine National Police chief and now senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
Duterte-Carpio, on the other hand, might be included in the second or succeeding batch of subjects for whom arrest warrants would be issued by the ICC.
Trillanes previously said the ICC investigated more than 50 active and former police officers who served under the Duterte administration for their role in the bloody war on drugs waged by Duterte.
The ICC is continuing its investigation into the Duterte administration’s brutal anti-drug campaign, which led to the deaths of over 6,000 suspects in police operations.
Former President Duterte has repeatedly rejected the ICC’s probe, saying he will not face foreign judges.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meanwhile, said the government will not cooperate with the ICC’s investigation. He also maintained that the tribunal does not have jurisdiction over the Philippines.
Under the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs”, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations, based on government records.
Human rights groups, however, claimed the actual death toll during the six-year term of former President Duterte could be from 12,000 to 30,000./PN
