Widow questions Cascolan's inclusion in ICC case

The widow of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Camilo Cascolan expressed disbelief that her late husband is implicated as one of the “co-perpetrators” in the International Criminal Court (ICC) case over the Duterte administration's drug war.

In a Facebook post, Amelia Cascolan made the remarks as she posted a photo with the images of the personalities named as alleged co-perpetrators of former President Rodrigo Duterte in the crime against humanity case.

“Are you sure? How I wish Picoy is here so he can give you a passionate lecture on Oplan Tokhang, Double Barrel and High-Value Target,” she said.

GMA News Online has sought more comment regarding the matter but she has yet to respond as of posting time.

Based on the Document Containing the Charges (DCC) submitted by the Prosecution, Duterte's co-perpetrators include Cascolan.

Cascolan served as:

• finance chief of Davao Region Police Office from 2011-2012
• chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations from July 2016 to April 2018
• regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) from April to May 2018
• chief of staff in the PNP Office of the Chief of Directorial Staff from September 2018 to October 2019

Cascolan died in November 2023.

Duterte's lead defense counsel, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, earlier said the former president and his team "have known the identities of the alleged co-perpetrators for almost a year."

"Accordingly, the Prosecution has now revealed the names of what it alleges to be criminal co-perpetrators—something that we will prove to be completely lacking in truth. None of these co-perpetrators are, in my opinion, currently subject to arrest warrants," he said.

ICC Assistant to Counsel Atty. Kristina Conti earlier said she was not surprised by the list of Duterte’s co-perpetrators.

“Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong alam pero puwede ring mayroon na kaya nga nagtatago, pero ang iintayin natin ay signed issued warrant of arrest,” she said.

(For now, we are not aware [if there are warrants of arrest] but it is possible, that is why some are hiding, but let us wait for the signed issued warrant of arrest.)

Advocacy group International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines asked the ICC to "urgently issue" arrest warrants for the alleged co-perpetrators.

“ICHRP calls for the ICC to urgently issue arrest warrants for Dela Rosa, Go and the others named so that they can also face trial, along with their boss Duterte… It remains abundantly clear that the Philippine judicial system is unable to prosecute these alleged co-perpetrators. While still at large they are a risk for destruction of evidence, intimidation of witnesses and also flight risks,” said ICHRP chairperson Peter Murphy. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News