Two sitting Philippine senators have been identified as “co-perpetrators” in former Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court, according to documents released by prosecutors.
Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Christopher Go are among eight current and former officials named in a document dated 13 February and posted on the ICC website.
Prosecutors have charged Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders as part of his so-called “war on drugs”.
“Duterte and his co-perpetrators 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,” the prosecution document reads.
Dela Rosa, former national police chief and enforcer of Duterte’s drug war, has previously said he feared potential arrest and has not been seen publicly in months.
Go, re-elected in May in a landslide victory, was a key lieutenant of Duterte both during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and later as president.
A representative for Dela Rosa said they had not yet seen the document, while calls to Go went unanswered.
It is not yet clear if any of the men named will face charges in court.
Duterte is set to face a four-day “confirmation of charges” hearing starting 23 February, during which judges will decide whether the prosecution’s allegations are strong enough to proceed to trial.
Judges have rejected claims that the 80-year-old, arrested in March last year and transferred to the Netherlands the same day, is unfit to stand trial.
Go and Dela Rosa are named as co-perpetrators in acts that occurred both during Duterte’s mayoralty and presidency.
Former Philippine Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who represented Duterte in cases involving the so-called Davao Death Squad, is also among the eight officials named.
The charges against Duterte are detailed as follows:
First count: alleged involvement as co-perpetrator in 19 murders between 2013 and 2016 while mayor of Davao City.
Second count: 14 murders of “high-value targets” in 2016–2017 during Duterte’s presidency.
Third count: 43 murders committed during “clearance” operations against lower-level alleged drug users or pushers between 2016 and 2018 across the Philippines, prosecutors allege.
