Prosecutors investigating Rody’s co-perpetrators—ICC spokesman

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is continuing the investigation on other personalities tagged in the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The ICC prosecutor and his office are continuing to investigate and if they have sufficient evidence, they will present it to the judges, and the judges will decide whether to issue arrest warrants,” the court’s spokesman Fadi El Abdallah told TeleRadyo Serbisyo on Tuesday.

“The ICC prosecutor and his office are continuing to investigate and  if they have sufficient evidence, they will present it to the judges, and the judges will decide whether to issue arrest warrants.”—ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah

Abdallah did not mention the names of the individuals under ICC investigation.

However, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who was Duterte’s former police chief and Oplan Tokhang chief enforcer, earlier said he expected to be arrested by the ICC next.

“Investigations are ongoing and confidentiality is a key element to ensure the success of the investigation so we cannot give more details on that,” Abdallah said.

Dela Rosa last month said he is considering hiding from authorities rather than surrender to the ICC should it move to have him arrested as a co-conspirator in Duterte’s crimes against humanity case.

“If we do not see any justice here in our country, why would you surrender?” Dela Rosa said. “That (not surrendering) is part of the course of action that can be done.”

Ex-PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, who succeeded Dela Rosa as head of the national police, said reports that he will also be targeted by the ICC “are mere speculation as of this time.”

“We did not give any illegal orders. If the people heard something from former President Digong on TV, we did not issue such orders to the police force because we know that we are law enforcers,” Albayalde said.

The ICC, in its arrest warrant, said there were “reasonable grounds to believe” at least 19 people had been

urdered in the city by members of the “Davao Death Squad” headed by Duterte.

Additionally, based on the warrant, at least 24 people were killed by Philippines police in various locations.

Duterte, who is currently detained at the Scheveningen prison in The Hague, will have his next scheduled court appearance on September 23 for the confirmation of the charges against him.

“For that, the judges need to verify the accusations against a higher threshold because they need to check if there are substantial grounds to believe that Mr. Duterte is responsible for such illegal conducts,” Abdallah said.

“That would be done by listening to the prosecutor…and to the defense counter-argumentation. There is also a possibility for the victims to present through a legal representative…their observations, their personal stories.”

He said the ICC prosecutor also has the option to pursue more charges against Duterte.

“Whether the prosecutor wants to request again, present additional evidence or request other charges, it will have to be presented to the judges, and then the judges will decide on that,” Abdallah said.

Prosecutors initially sought three charges against Duterte – murder, torture, and rape – but the ICC chamber only issued a warrant for crimes against humanity for murder.

For her part, former United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard said Duterte’s arrest was a victory for everyone who fought for justice.

“He went after me. He went after everybody. He went after President Obama, if I am not mistaken. He went after journalists. He went after the International Criminal Court. He mocked the International Criminal Court,” Callamard said in an interview with NewsWatch Plus.

“I think it’s vindication for all of us. It is a demonstration that we should not lose sight of what matters,” she added.