A document released by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on February 13, 2026 has identified several individuals as alleged co-perpetrators of former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with crimes linked to his anti-drug campaign.
The charging document outlines Duterte’s alleged individual criminal responsibility under Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute, citing indirect co-perpetration for crimes enumerated in Counts 1 to 3.
Prosecutors allege that from November 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019, Duterte and his co-perpetrators shared a common plan to “neutralize” alleged criminals in the Philippines through violent crimes, including murder.
According to the document, the alleged co-perpetrators include former and current high-ranking officials from law enforcement and government.
Named in the filing are:
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Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa, who served as Davao City Police chief and later as Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP);
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Vicente Danao, who held various senior posts in the PNP, including Manila Police District director;
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Camilo Cascolan, who led key PNP operational units and later became PNP chief;
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Oscar Albayalde, former NCRPO regional director and later PNP chief;
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Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go, Duterte’s longtime aide who later became Special Assistant to the President;
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Dante Gierran, former director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);
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Isidro Lapeña, former chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA);
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Vitaliano Aguirre II, who served as Secretary of Justice; and
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other members of the PNP and high-ranking government officials.
Prosecutors allege that during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao City, a structure of power involving local police and non-police hitmen—referred to in the document as the Davao Death Squad (DDS)—was used to carry out killings of alleged criminals.
The filing claims Duterte sat at the apex of both formal police structures and the alleged DDS hierarchy, and that his approval was required before killings were conducted in Davao City.
The document further alleges that when Duterte assumed the presidency on June 30, 2016, the common plan expanded nationwide.
It states that key allies from Davao were appointed to high-level posts in the PNP, PDEA, NBI, and the Department of Justice, enabling the alleged implementation of the plan across the country.
Prosecutors claim a “National Network” composed of state actors and non-police operatives was established to conduct operations similar to those previously carried out in Davao City.
The network allegedly relied on chains of command, recruitment of loyal personnel, threats, incentives, and promises of protection from prosecution to ensure compliance.
The filing also alleges that Duterte made essential contributions to the alleged crimes, including designing and promoting policies to neutralize suspected criminals, endorsing anti-drug operations such as “Double Barrel,” appointing key officials, offering financial incentives and promotions, and publicly encouraging or condoning killings.
The ICC document states that Duterte was aware that violent crimes, including murder, would be committed in the ordinary course of implementing the common plan and that he exercised joint control over the alleged crimes with his named co-perpetrators.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been detained in the ICC since his arrest on March 12, 2025.
The ICC Chamber is set to confirm the charges against Duterte in a hearing from February 23 to 27, 2026.
