MANILA, Philippines—The International Criminal Court (ICC) heard Monday that several high-ranking officials and aides were instrumental in carrying out former president Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged extrajudicial killings.
During the confirmation of charges hearing, prosecutor Julian Nicholls identified five co-perpetrators who allegedly assisted Duterte in operating the notorious Davao Death Squad (DDS).
They include former Davao police chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, former police chief Vicente Danao, Duterte’s long-time aide and now Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, former National Bureau of Investigation Dante Gierran, and former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
Nichols told the court that these individuals helped implement Duterte’s directives, maintained the operational structure of the DDS, and facilitated the killings that targeted thousands of alleged criminals.
“The evidence shows a coordinated chain of command,” Nichols said. “With these co-perpetrators relaying orders, managing the squads, and ensuring that Duterte’s instructions were executed.”