FILE

A major update has emerged in the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte, as the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court released a lesser redacted version of the Document Containing the Charges (DCC).

The DCC — comparable to an “Information” in Philippine courts — was originally filed in July 2025 and made public in September. However, this is the first time substantial details have been disclosed, including the names of alleged co-perpetrators linked to killings carried out during the controversial “war on drugs.”

Among those named are Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief; Vicente Danao, former PNP counter-intelligence and operations director; Camilo Cascolan, former PNP operations chief; Oscar Albayalde, former NCRPO chief who later became PNP chief; Christopher "Bong" Go, former special assistant to the president; Dante Gierran, former National Bureau of Investigation director; Isidro Lapeña, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief; and Vitaliano Aguirre II, former Secretary of Justice.

Prosecutors allege that the plan behind the anti-drug campaign was crafted not only to ensure its implementation, but also to secure impunity. The inclusion of officials from investigative and oversight units — agencies expected to examine and act on possible abuses — is described as material to the alleged scheme.

The document also reinforces claims that the campaign began in Davao, where Duterte previously served as mayor before assuming the presidency.

The charges are scheduled to be read on Monday, February 23, 2026, during the confirmation of charges hearing, a crucial step that will determine whether the case moves forward to trial.