THE HAGUE — An International Criminal Court prosecutor on Tuesday outlined the alleged roles of several former top Philippine officials in the implementation of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, telling judges they were part of a group that “controlled the executive” and key law enforcement agencies.
During the second day of the confirmation of charges hearing against Duterte before Pre-Trial Chamber I at the International Criminal Court, prosecutor Robynne Croft identified former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña, former police official Vicente Danao, and former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, among others, as alleged co-perpetrators.
Croft told the chamber that Duterte and his alleged associates “controlled the executive, they controlled the police, they controlled the [Philippine] Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice,” and used that authority to implement a plan to “neutralize alleged criminals through violent crimes.”
Duterte, who served as Philippine president from 2016 to 2022, is facing charges before the ICC related to alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s anti-narcotics campaign. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, but the court has maintained jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member.
Allegations of coordinated control
Croft argued that when Duterte assumed the presidency, he appointed allies from Davao City to key national posts in law enforcement and government, positions she described as central to the alleged common plan.
She cited video clips and public speeches in which Dela Rosa, as PNP chief, made strong statements against drug suspects, including remarks encouraging violent action. According to the prosecution, Dela Rosa oversaw approximately 180,000 police officers during his tenure.
Croft also referenced statements attributed to Lapeña, who led the PDEA, and Danao, who previously served as Davao City police chief and later headed the Manila Police District. The prosecutor alleged that these officials used their positions to carry out and sustain the anti-drug campaign.
Regarding Aguirre, Croft said that as Justice secretary, he exercised authority over the National Prosecution Service and allegedly ensured that only a limited number of cases involving low-level perpetrators were prosecuted, fostering what she described as a “climate of impunity.”
The named officials have either denied wrongdoing in previous public statements or declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings. Dela Rosa has not attended Senate plenary sessions since November 2025 amid reports of an ICC warrant. Earlier this year, he said he was waiting for “justice to emerge and take over.”
Data on police killings presented
Croft also presented findings from an expert witness specializing in political violence. According to the prosecution, the expert’s analysis showed that in the first 25 months of Duterte’s presidency, the number of suspects killed by police increased by 590% nationwide.
In Bulacan province, the prosecution said police killings rose by 1,600% after Duterte assumed office. Using a metric of police killings per 100,000 population, the expert reportedly concluded that the spike could be explained by what Croft described as a “widespread facility of extrajudicial executions.”
The defense has yet to present its response to these specific claims during the ongoing confirmation hearings.
Next steps in proceedings
The ICC formally read the charges against Duterte on Monday. Hearings are scheduled to continue on February 26 and 27.
At the close of the confirmation process, Pre-Trial Chamber I may decline to confirm the charges, request the prosecution to provide additional evidence or amend the charges, or confirm the charges and commit the case to trial before a Trial Chamber.
The outcome of the confirmation stage will determine whether Duterte will face a full trial before the ICC.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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