ICC Names Eight Officials in Duterte Drug War Case

The International Criminal Court has identified eight current and former Philippine officials as co-perpetrators in former President Rodrigo Duterte's alleged crimes against humanity stemming from his war on drugs, according to a prosecutor's filing released last week. The document, dated February 13 and posted on the court's website, names Senators Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and Christopher "Bong" Go alongside six others, highlighting a shared plan to target individuals perceived as involved in drug activities through violent means, including murder.

Duterte, arrested in Manila in March 2025 and transferred to ICC custody in The Hague, faces three counts related to at least 76 killings. These include 19 murders during his time as Davao City mayor from 2013 to 2016, 14 killings of high-value targets in 2016 and 2017 as president, and 43 deaths in nationwide clearance operations against lower-level suspects between 2016 and 2018. Prosecutors allege the officials collaborated to implement and ensure impunity for the campaign, which resulted in thousands of deaths across the Philippines.

Among those named are former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, ex-Philippine National Police...