10-5-2024 (MANILA) The ongoing probe by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the Philippines’ contentious war on drugs has cast its scrutiny on former President Rodrigo Duterte and two former police chiefs – Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde. According to Kristina Conti, an Assistant to Counsel at the ICC, these individuals have been explicitly named in public documents pertaining to the investigation.
Conti, representing the families of victims from the drug war, shed light on the gravity of the situation during an interview with “Storycon” on One News. She asserted that crimes against humanity had been firmly established at this juncture of the ICC proceedings, leaving the crucial question of identifying those deemed “most responsible.”
The former police chiefs, Dela Rosa and Albayalde, find themselves in the ICC’s crosshairs due to their respective positions and the accompanying command responsibility. Conti revealed that Dela Rosa issued the 2016 command memorandum circular that launched “Project Double Barrel” and the nationwide war on drugs, while Albayalde reaffirmed his commitment to the campaign upon assuming the helm of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2018.
Regarding Duterte, Conti expressed her conviction that he would be among those considered “most responsible” and would likely face a summons or an arrest warrant from the ICC. She underscored that the former president’s role was pivotal, stating, “I can definitely say for sure one, former president Rodrigo Duterte – everything started with him.”
The ICC’s request for authorization to initiate an investigation in 2021 specifically identified Dela Rosa and Albayalde, along with other high-ranking PNP officials, as responsible for “ordering, directing and organizing the overall conduct of WoD (war on drugs) operations in which a large part of the alleged crimes were committed.”
While Vice President Sara Duterte’s name does not appear in the ICC’s official public records, Conti highlighted the potential for her inclusion, given the investigation’s scope spanning November 2011 to June 2022, encompassing the alleged Davao death squad during her mayoral tenure in the city.
Conti emphasized the possibility of a summon for Sara Duterte to cooperate in the probe, contingent upon the ICC’s assessment of testimonies regarding the Davao death squad.
In an intriguing twist, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing a briefer for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his legal options should the ICC issue an arrest warrant concerning the drug war deaths. Conti interpreted this move as a potential indication of Marcos reconsidering his stance, urging the briefer to be fair and thorough.
However, the Duterte camp has vehemently criticized the DOJ’s statement, with former officials asserting the unnecessary nature of an ICC investigation and accusing the DOJ of undermining Marcos’ unequivocal stance against the ICC’s intrusion into the Philippine legal system.
