ICC lawyer: Duterte faces arrest; Bato, Albayalde being probed

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from former president Rodrigo Duterte, two former police chiefs – Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde – are “named as possible to be investigated” in the ongoing probe of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Duterte, Dela Rosa and Albayalde were explicitly named in public documents regarding the ongoing investigation into the previous administration’s war on drugs, ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti said in an interview with “Storycon” on One News yesterday.

In a separate message to The STAR last night, she said the two police chiefs “are named as possible to be investigated because if their position,” primarily due to command responsibility.

As to Duterte, she said that she is “pretty sure… that he will be considered as one of the most responsible and will probably be summoned or ordered arrested by the ICC.”

Conti, who represents the families of the victims of the drug war, stressed that crimes against humanity had been established “at this point of the ICC proceedings.”

“The fact that crimes against humanity have been committed in the Philippines is already established. The question is, who is the most responsible?” she said.

Once those persons are identified, Conti said the ICC prosecutor can issue arrest warrants or summons even if the probe is still ongoing.

Asked how many she thinks would be identified as “most responsible,” Conti responded: “I can definitely say for sure one, former president Rodrigo Duterte – everything started with him.”

But she pointed out that when the ICC prosecutor requested for authorization to initiate an investigation in 2021, Dela Rosa and Albayalde were specifically identified.

“Individuals at the highest levels of command of the PNP (Philippine National Police) were 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,” read the 57-page request.

“This includes the two PNP chiefs in charge of police operations during the relevant period, namely Ronald dela Rosa and his successor Oscar Albayalde, as well as, below them, the directors of the AIDG (Anti-Illegal Drugs Group) and