MANILA — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally named Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go as alleged co-perpetrators of former President Rodrigo Duterte in a prosecution document detailing crimes against humanity charges linked to killings carried out from 2011 to 2019.
In the Document Containing the Charges (DCC), released in a lesser redacted version on Feb. 13, ICC prosecutors alleged that Duterte and his supposed co-perpetrators pursued a “common plan” to “neutralize alleged criminals” through “violent crimes including murder” during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as president.
“At least between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019, Duterte and his coperpetrators shared a common plan or agreement to ‘neutralise’ alleged criminals in the Philippines (including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production) through violent crimes including murder (“Common Plan”),” the DCC read.
Aside from Dela Rosa and Go, the document identified former and retired police and justice officials Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, Dante Gierran, Isidro Lapeña, and Vitaliano Aguirre II, along with other Philippine National Police officers and senior officials.
The prosecution alleged that Duterte ordered and influenced members of the Davao Death Squad (DDS) and what it described as a “National Network” to carry out killings.
“Duterte ordered members of the DDS and the National Network, over whom he had authority as Mayor of Davao City and Head of the DDS, and later, President of the Philippines, to commit the crimes in Counts 1 to 3… One or more of these members carried out Duterte’s orders, which led to the commission of the crimes in Counts 1 to 3.”
The DCC further stated: “Duterte induced members of the DDS and the National Network to commit the crimes in Counts 1 to 3… Duterte exerted influence over the members of the DDS and the National Network, prompting them to commit the relevant crimes.”
It added that Duterte allegedly “aided, abetted or otherwise assisted members of the DDS and the National Network to commit the crimes in Counts 1 to 3… By these acts, Duterte facilitated and/or provided moral encouragement for the relevant crimes.”
The charges against Duterte cover three counts of crimes against humanity.
“For these reasons, Rodrigo Roa Duterte is criminally responsible for:
Count 1: Murder as a crime against humanity in Davao City during the Mayoral period of the 19 victims of Incidents 1 to 9, between 2013 and around June 2016, pursuant to articles 7(1)(a) and 25(3)(a) (indirect co-perpetration) and/or 25(3)(b) (ordering and/or inducing) and/or 25(3)(c) (aiding and abetting);
Count 2: Murder as a crime against humanity of ‘High-Value Targets’ in locations across the Philippines during the Presidential period of the 14 victims of Incidents 10 to 14, between around July 2016 and July 2017, pursuant to articles 7(1)(a) and 25(3)(a) (indirect co-perpetration) and/or 25(3)(b) (ordering and/or inducing) and/or 25(3)(c) (aiding and abetting);
Count 3: Murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity in barangay clearance operations in locations across the Philippines during the Presidential period of the 45 victims (43 murders and two attempted murders) of Incidents 15 to 49, between around July 2016 and September 2018, pursuant to articles 7(1)(a) and/or 25(3)(f) and 25(3)(a) (indirect co-perpetration) and/or 25(3)(b) (ordering and/or inducing) and/or 25(3)(c) (aiding and abetting).,” the DCC read.
The prosecution document was signed by Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang.
Duterte is currently detained at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen, The Hague, as proceedings move forward on the charges./PN
