Jonathan Frederic De Santos

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte speaks with then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Sept. 26, 2017. Ace Morandante, Malacanang Photo/File

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177113049833620170927-duterte-doj-mnib-10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="President Rodrigo Roa Duterte speaks with then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Sept. 26, 2017. Ace Morandante, Malacanang Photo/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Rodrigo Roa Duterte speaks with then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Sept. 26, 2017. Ace Morandante, Malacanang Photo/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he will not go into hiding but will ‘resist legally’ should the International Criminal Court issue a warrant for his arrest.</p><p>This comes after the ICC released a lesser redacted version of the Document Containing the Charges (DCC) that the Prosecution submitted last July. Aguirre is among those named as former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s alleged ‘co-perpetrators’ in killings in the drug war.</p><p>“Hindi ako magtatago kailanman. Nandito lang ako,” Aguirre told DZMM Sunday, February 15.</p><p>(I will never hide. I&#x27;m just here)</p><p>He said he would resist a potential warrant legally, “like asking the Philippine courts to prohibit my trial sa ICC because I believe it is not in accordance with our law.”</p><p>Aguirre said he hopes the Supreme Court will issue a ruling clarifying the process to be followed once the ICC issues another arrest warrant “because many are affected”.</p><p>Apart from Aguirre, Sens. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa and Lawrence Christopher &quot;Bong&quot; Go and several former national police chiefs were named in the document.</p><p>“Ano ba ang dapat gawin? Dapat bang sundin o dapat ba nating gamitin &#x27;yung inilabas nilang rules tungkol sa extradition?” he said. </p><p>(What should we do? Do we follow or should we use the rules on extradition?)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/9/rumored-icc-warrant-for-bato-raises-questions-on-how-and-if-one-would-be-implemented-2042">WRAP: Rumored ICC warrant for Bato raises questions on how, and if, one would be implemented</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘IMBENTO LANG’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Aguirre maintained that he has no involvement in the “common plan” or “national network” as alleged by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor in the Duterte case.</p><p>Prosecution has argued that killings in the so-called drug war were not isolated incidents but part of a &quot;systematic&quot; attack on civilians whom authorities believed to be &quot;drug personalities&quot;.</p><p>He said he was likely only included to add credibility to the case.</p><p>“Imbento lang &#x27;yan ng mga nagpo-prosecute sa akin,” he said.</p><p>(Those prosecuting me just made that up)</p><p>The prosecution alleged that between November 2011 and March 16, 2019, Duterte and his co-perpetrators shared a ‘common plan’ or agreement to ‘neutralize’ alleged criminals in the Philippines — including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production — through violent crimes, including murder.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/14/vitaliano-aguirre-i-never-conspired-in-any-extrajudicial-killings-2312">Vitaliano Aguirre: I never conspired in any extrajudicial killings<br/></a></div><p>The former Justice secretary maintained that he was not involved in any extrajudicial killings, arguing that he even became an ‘instrument’ in attaining justice for several drug war victims.</p><p>He said that he had been instrumental in the charges against and conviction of police officers in the killings of Kian delos Santos, Carlos Arnaiz and Reynaldo &quot;Kulot&quot; de Guzman — teens killed in the drug war whom authorities initially tried to paint as criminals.</p><p>Aguirre, while justice secretary, frequently referred to criticism of the drug war as being part of destabilization plots against the government. He also said in 2017 that criminals and those involved in the drug trade are &quot;not part of humanity&quot;.</p><p>He added Sunday that he did not know the other officials named until he joined the Duterte Cabinet.</p><p>“Nandito ako sa Manila, hindi naman ako taga Davao eh,” Aguirre said, referring to deaths during Duterte&#x27;s time in local government that are included in the ICC case.</p><p>(I was here in Manila. I&#x27;m not from Davao)</p>

<p>Aguirre said he hopes the Supreme Court will issue a ruling clarifying the process to be followed once the ICC issues another arrest warrant “because many are affected”.</p>

Aguirre said he hopes the Supreme Court will issue a ruling clarifying the process to be followed once the ICC issues another arrest warrant “because many are affected”.

Aguirre says he’ll seek legal remedies if ICC issues warrant but won’t hide

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Aguirre says he’ll seek legal remedies if ICC issues warrant but won’t hide

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 15, 2026 12:46 PM PHT

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Vitaliano Aguirre II

International Criminal Court

Drug war

War on drugs

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