ICC lawyer: Rody, Bato, Albayalde face arrest

For crimes against humanity

- JANVIC MATEO

Aside from former president Rodrigo Duterte, two former police chiefs - Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde - are likely to be subjected to arrest warrants that may soon be issued by 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.

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.