The International Criminal Court (ICC) has publicly released a redacted version of its Pre-Confirmation Brief on crimes against humanity charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte, where the names of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre were mentioned.
Atty. Kristina Conti, assistant to counsel at the ICC, said during an interview on DZMM Teleradyo that the Tribunal appears to be focusing more on Dela Rosa, whose name has been cited multiple times across official documents.
“If I bet my money… kay Sen. Dela Rosa, kasi lagi na siyang nababanggit,” Conti stressed, describing the repeated mentions as a virtual “bingo.” She noted that this was already the third, fourth, or even fifth document linking him to the case.
Conti added that Dela Rosa might already know what is coming. “Kung ako ang may kasalanan, hindi yung punto na nabanggit ako o nadiscover ang involvement ko, kundi yung punto na actual involvement ko noon pa man noong 2016 and even before that sa Davao Death Squad, alam ko ang role ko kaya alam ko na madadawit at madadawit ako,” she said. “It’s just a matter of when it’s disclosed. Dapat kinabahan ka noon pa man, nung nagsimula ang patayan.”
Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police chief and led Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, has publicly stated that he is prepared if the ICC decides to issue an arrest warrant against him. “I am ready. I am ready,” he declared last week.
