ICC may issue more arrest warrants vs Duterte’s ‘co-perpetrators’ —counsel

The International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue more arrest warrants for the “co-perpetrators” of former president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the killings during his administration’s war on drugs, the lawyer of the families of the victims said Wednesday.

“Kung babasahin mo ang warrant of arrest, may mga indications na may iba pa maliban kay Pangulong Duterte. Kasi ang description na binibigay doon kay Pangulong Duterte indirect co-perpetrator,” Atty. Joel Butuyan told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(If you read the arrest warrant, there are indications that there are others besides President Duterte. Because the description given to President Duterte was indirect co-perpetrator.)

READ: Full text of ICC warrant of arrest for Rodrigo Duterte

Butuyan, who is in the ICC’s List of Counsel, said Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa may be one of the co-perpetrators who will face arrest. 

“So, kung co-perpetrator siya, meron siyang ibang ka-perpetrator. So, umaasa tayo na ito ay simula pa lang at meron pang iba kagaya ni Senator Bato dela Rosa na maaaring mahahainan ng warrant of arrest sa mga susunod na araw,” Butuyan said. 

(So, if he is a co-perpetrator, he has other perpetrators. So, we are hoping that this is just the beginning and there are others like Senator Bato dela Rosa who may be served with arrest warrants in the coming days.)

Dela Rosa served as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during Duterte’s term.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the personalities who filed a case against Duterte before the ICC, said the additional warrant of arrest may only cover Dela Rosa.  

“Meron pa po tayong ine-expect na darating pa na warrant of arrest pero baka hanggang kay Bato dela Rosa na lang po ang inaantay natin,” Trillanes told Unang Balita in a separate interview. 

(We are still expecting an arrest warrant to arrive, but maybe it’s only for Bato dela Rosa.)

Meanwhile, Butuyan said that many Filipino witnesses are expected to go to the ICC to testify in connection with the case against Duterte. 

A victims’ counsel will be formed to represent the families of those who were killed in the drug war, he added. 

On Tuesday morning, authorities served a warrant of arrest from the ICC against Duterte for crimes against humanity in connection with his drug war.

The plane carrying Duterte departed the Philippines on Tuesday evening heading to The Hague in the Netherlands. 

The plane arrived in Dubai for a layover early Wednesday.

After more than an hour or at 5:15 a.m. (Dubai time), the same plane is expected to fly to Rotterdam The Hague Airport. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News