Ched Rick Gatchalian

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa during the Senate hearing in Pasay City on the alleged "GTCA for Sale" scheme within the New Bilibid Prison on September 9, 2019. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

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Progressive groups welcome ICC's inclusion of Bato, Go as "co-perpetrators" in Duterte drug war

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/1771114608852bong.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Ronald Dela Rosa during the Senate hearing in Pasay City on the alleged &quot;GTCA for Sale&quot; scheme within the New Bilibid Prison on September 9, 2019. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — An organization for families of people killed in the Duterte administration&#x27;s &quot;drug war&quot; welcomed the disclosure of the names of alleged &quot;co-perpetrators&quot; in the killings, saying it was a reassurance of the prospect of justice for their kin. </p><p>Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go and former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II have both denied the allegations. Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa, who has not been seen at the Senate since late 2025, has yet to respond.</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>&quot;We have known their names and faces as Duterte’s cohorts, but the ICC naming them feels like a gentle pat on our shoulders, as we grieve for our loved ones,&quot; Jane Lee of Rise Up for Rights and for Life said.</p><p>&quot;My son was maligned as a drug user and criminal. I and other families have been called many names as we fight for justice,&quot; Dahlia Cuartero, whose son was killed in the &quot;drug war&quot;, said in the Rise Up release. </p><p>&quot;Today, we have seen and read the names of the real culprits – they who have blood on their hands for implementing a deadly policy,&quot; she also said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/14/bong-go-denies-involvement-in-duterte-s-drug-war-1648">Bong Go denies involvement in Duterte&#x27;s drug war<br/></a></div><div><br/><strong>&#x27;SAMA-SAMA MANAGOT ANG TOKHANG MASTERMINDS&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Groups critical of the violent anti-narcotics campaign also welcomed the disclosure of names, which also include former national police chiefs.<strong></strong><br/></p><p><strong></strong>&quot;Sama-sama dapat sa Hague managot ang mga tokhang masterminds, walang lulusot. Hustisya para sa mga biktima!&quot; Kabataan Party-List said in a Facebook post.</p><p>(The masterminds of &#x27;tokhang&#x27; should all be together at The Hague, no exceptions. Justice for the victims!)</p><p>Akbayan Party-list also welcomed Go and Dela Rosa&#x27;s inclusion as co-perpetrators in the crimes against humanity case.</p><p>&quot;Wala nang mas tatamis pa sa pananagutan (Nothing is sweeter than accountability). Happy Valentine&#x27;s Day! Group Hague soon,&quot; Akbayan said on a Facebook post.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/20/mother-being-mocked-online-lost-2-sons-during-different-administrations-lawyer-1916">Mother being mocked online lost 2 sons during different administrations: lawyer<br/></a></div><p>The naming of co-perpetrators has drawn mixed reactions in the Philippines. </p><p>Go dismissed the allegations as “entirely unfounded” and without basis in the reality of his previous roles, while Duterte’s defense team described the ICC filing as lacking in truth.</p><p>The contentious ICC proceedings come as the former president remains detained in The Hague, where judges have rejected efforts by Duterte’s defense to secure his release.</p><p>Prosecutors allege his policies oversaw widespread violence, including murders, in what critics call a systematic attack on perceived criminals.</p><p>The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines also on Saturday called for the arrest of those named as co-perpetrators “so that they can also face trial, along with their boss, Duterte.&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/14/what-charges-does-duterte-face-at-icc-court-releases-document-0813">ICC Prosecution document names Bato, Go and others as &#x27;co-perpetrators&#x27; in drug war deaths</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>GO, DELA ROSA SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL REMEDIES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo &quot;Ping&quot; Lacon meanwhile said his colleagues should also have &quot;all chances&quot; to avail legal remedies in light of their inclusion as alleged co-perpetrators.</p><p>In a statement, he added that Philippine courts should also be respected and that any arrest warrant from the ICC should go through a local court first.</p><p>&quot;I think they should have the chance to avail of all legal options, because our local courts and processes must be respected,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;If there is an arrest warrant from the ICC or a foreign court, it should go through our local court, which will issue a corresponding order to implement the foreign entity&#x27;s arrest warrant,&quot; he said. <strong>— with Eon Sanchez, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>A rights group and several progressive party-lists welcomed the inclusion of Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go as alleged co-perpetrators alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte in the International Criminal Court’s charges linked to crimes against humanity.</p>

A rights group and several progressive party-lists welcomed the inclusion of Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go as alleged co-perpetrators alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte in the International Criminal Court’s charges linked to crimes against humanity.

Drug war victims' kin welcome naming of Bato, Go as 'co-perpetrators' in ICC case

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Drug war victims' kin welcome naming of Bato, Go as 'co-perpetrators' in ICC case

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 15, 2026 09:54 AM PHT

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Bong Go

Bato dela Rosa

ICC

Drug war

Co-perpetrators

Senate

Rodrigo Duterte

The Hague

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