Senate President Vicente Sotto III may call a caucus to discuss possible Senate action over the cases faced by Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence Go before the International Criminal Court (ICC), Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said over the weekend.
In a radio interview, Lacson said it was “highly possible” that Sotto would consult lawmakers on the matter, adding that Dela Rosa and Go should be allowed to exhaust all available legal remedies.
“Our local courts and processes must be respected. If there is an arrest warrant from the ICC or a foreign court, it should go through our local court, which will issue a corresponding order to implement the foreign entity’s arrest warrant,” Lacson said.
Both senators were recently identified as alleged co-perpetrators in the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity before the ICC.
Lacson said it would be premature for the Senate to adopt a firm position, noting that the ICC has yet to release a bill of particulars detailing the specific charges and possible penalties.
“The Senate’s lawyers will study possible courses of action to take, given the circumstances. We’ll discuss the matter if the senators decide to extend help. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.
On Friday, the ICC released a less redacted version of the Document Containing the Charges (DCC) filed by prosecutors, naming eight alleged co-perpetrators.
Aside from Dela Rosa and Go, those listed include former police officials Vicente Danao, the late Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde and Isidro Lapeña; former National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran; and former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, along with other Philippine National Police officials.
Duterte’s lead defense counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, denounced the list as “completely lacking in truth.”
In a message to GMA Integrated News, Kaufman said the defense had known the identities of the alleged co-perpetrators for nearly a year and kept them confidential as required by the court.
“This puts to lie the utter falsity of the claim that the former president’s interim release would endanger the integrity of the Prosecution’s investigation,” he said.
“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,” the lawyer added.
“None of these co-perpetrators are, in my opinion, currently subject to arrest warrants,” Kaufman said, describing reports on the list as “sensational” and “politically motivated.”
Aguirre, meanwhile, said he will not go into hiding but will “resist legally” should the ICC issue a warrant for his arrest.
“Hindi ako magtatago kailanman. Nandito lang ako (I will never hide. I’m just here),” Aguirre told DZMM on Sunday.
He said he would resist a potential warrant legally, “like asking the Philippine courts to prohibit my trial at the ICC because I believe it is not in accordance with our law.”
Aguirre also said he hopes the Supreme Court will issue a ruling clarifying the process to be followed once the ICC issues another arrest warrant “because many are affected.”
The former Justice secretary maintained that he has no involvement in the “common plan” or “national network” as alleged by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, adding he was likely only included to add credibility to the case.
Senator Go, in a separate statement, denied the allegations.
“I dispute these allegations which are entirely unfounded, one-sided, unfair and bear no relation to the reality of my roles and responsibilities,” he said, adding: “At no time did I have any involvement in, knowledge of, or authority over these allegations.”
Dela Rosa, who has not been seen at the Senate since late 2025, has yet to issue a statement.
Outside the Senate, reactions were mixed.
Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima welcomed the inclusion of high-profile personalities as co-accused.
“In laying down the charges against Duterte, the ICC Prosecutor also just made the world smaller for his co-perpetrators by naming them… Time and again, we warned these people, even from prison, that this day would come… Justice will always catch up with them. Justice will be served,” she said.
The group Rise Up for Rights and for Life, an organization of families of drug war victims, also welcomed the disclosure.
“We have known their names and faces as Duterte’s cohorts, but the ICC naming them feels like a gentle pat on our shoulders, as we grieve for our loved ones,” said Jane Lee of the group.
“My son was maligned as a drug user and criminal… Today, we have seen and read the names of the real culprits – they who have blood on their hands for implementing a deadly policy,” said Dahlia Cuartero, whose son was killed in the anti-drug campaign.
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines called for the arrest of those named as co-perpetrators “so that they can also face trial, along with their boss, Duterte.”
The ICC has scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing to begin on February 23 at its seat in The Hague, Netherlands. The prosecution, defense, and lawyers for victims are expected to present their arguments before Pre-Trial Chamber I.
Duterte remains detained at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen as he faces three charges of crimes against humanity in connection with killings linked to his administration’s war on drugs.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “PH courts must have a say on senators’ ICC case”
