'Dela Rosa,' 'Aguirre' named in redacted briefer on ICC charges vs. Duterte

The names "Dela Rosa" and "Aguirre" were mentioned in the public redacted version posted on the International Criminal Court website of the prosecution’s Pre-Confirmation Brief on the crimes of humanity charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte before the tribunal.

The first names of Dela Rosa and Aguirre were not mentioned, but the brief, already heavily redacted, referred to Dela Rosa as the PNP chief.

Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa was the first chief of the Philippine National Police under Duterte.

GMA Integrated News is getting his comment and will publish it as soon as it is available.

"[Redacted] Dela Rosa promised that they would 'immediately' implement a 'scaled up' version of the Davao model: 'If someone fights back, they’ll die. If nobody fights back, we’ll make them fight back'. 'Produce blood. Instill fear'," the 78-page briefer read.

"On the very same day that Duterte appointed Dela Rosa as PNP chief," it added.

The briefer said Dela Rosa issued a command memorandum circular, formally launching the anti-illegal drugs campaign nationwide in express pursuance of Duterte’s campaign promises.

Oplan Double Barrel

It said CMC No. 16-2016 set out Project “Double Barrel”, which was modelled after Davao City’s policing strategy and directed at the “neutralization of illegal drug personalities nationwide”.

"Dela Rosa told reporters: 'Killings in the name of drugs. This is really about killings in the name of drugs. So you drug lords out there, get ready because I’ll crush you'," the briefer said.

As regards Aguirre, the briefer said, "[redacted] Aguirre said the new administration’s 'programme' was 'to do everything to stop drugs, crimes, and corruption'—'we will choose to kill these drug lords'."

No first name was mentioned, but Duterte's first secretary of justice was Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre.

"I never said it. It is completely false! I never and will never advocate extrajudicial killings. I want to be confronted by my supposed false statement. When did this happen? Who interviewed me?" Aguirre said. 

"Is this interview recorded? Why is it that this false statement of mine was never publicized before? This is the first time I heard this accusation. Thank you for getting my side on this matter," he added.

Co-perpetrator?

Lawyer Kristina Conti, an International Criminal Court (ICC) accredited assistant to counsel, on Tuesday said she believes that the tribunal is seeking to establish that Dela Rosa was a co-perpetrator of the former President.

“Ang malinaw na pinapakita sa atin ng prosecutor na merong nangyaring DDS killings at ito ay naaayon sa isang plano. Nung naging president na si Duterte… nabuo o isinagawa ‘yung national plan,” she said in a Zoom briefing.

(It is clearly being shown to us by the prosecutor that DDS killings took place and that these were in accordance with a plan. When Duterte became president… the national plan was formed or carried out.)

“At binabanggit nga doon sa pre-confirmation brief ang naging masusing role ni Bato Dela Rosa. At para sa akin, malinaw na inilalatag na si Bato Dela Rosa ay co-perpetrator kasama ni Duterte,” she added.

(And the pre-confirmation brief indeed mentions the key role of Bato Dela Rosa. And for me, it is clear that it lays out Bato Dela Rosa as a co-perpetrator alongside Duterte.) –NB, GMA Integrated News