Ex-PNP execs ‘new suspects’ in ICC probe

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 7:27 p.m.) — Former officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been tagged as the “new suspects” by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the alleged crimes committed during the Duterte administration's anti-narcotics campaign.

In a four-page document posted by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the ICC said that five former PNP officials were suspected to be responsible for the ordering of the killings of drug suspects and users from 2011 to 2019.

“...The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) has reasonable grounds to believe that the following retired and serving members of the Philippine National Police, have committed crimes within the jurisdiction of the OTP,” the document read.

ICC UPDATE:
The following former and active PNP officials are now considered as suspects in the ICC case against Duterte:
1. Bato dela Rosa;
2. Oscar Albayalde;
3. Romeo Caramat Jr.;
4. Edilberto Leonardo; and
5. Eleazar Mata

(See ICC order below) pic.twitter.com/eogMW2c4yp

Four of the five are the following officials:

Among the five is also former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, who previously said he was unbothered by the ICC's decision to continue its investigation into the drug war in the Philippines. He, however, admitted was scared of being imprisoned. 

Dela Rosa was appointed as the first PNP chief by former President Rodrigo Duterte following his presidential victory in 2016. 

During his tenure, Dela Rosa supervised the enforcement of “Oplan Tokhang,” a controversial anti-drug initiative that resulted in thousands of fatalities, according to local and international human rights groups.

Albayalde, on the other hand, succeeded Dela Rosa as PNP chief in April 2018 and held that post until October 2019.

Aside from Dela Rosa and former president Duterte, official documents submitted to the ICC, containing evidence related to the drug war, included the names of Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Bong Go, according to a July 2023 report by VERA Files. 

On Sept. 15, 2021, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber authorized the ICC prosecutor to begin probing the alleged crimes committed during the drug war