The names have been spoken again…
again and again… tied to a long trail of alleged killings.
But here’s the truth that cuts through the noise:
They are not part of Rodrigo Duterte’s case at the International Criminal Court.
At least… not yet.
A legal expert from the University of the Philippines made it clear on Friday —
those repeatedly mentioned as Duterte’s alleged co-perpetrators will have to face their own cases, separately.
UP Law Assistant Professor Michael Tiu Jr. explained it simply.
The discussions around these individuals?
They were never meant to put them on trial — not at this stage.
They were only there to answer one question:
How responsible is Duterte himself?
“So the investigation into the others might still be ongoing,” Tiu said.
Then he paused — and added something that carries weight:
“It looks like they already have enough… for possible warrants.”
Earlier, the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed charges against Duterte.
In doing so, it pointed to something deeper —
a “common plan” between Duterte and others
to carry out killings of alleged criminals.
But the court was careful.
It drew a line.
This was not a final judgment on the others.
Not a declaration of guilt.
Just… a recognition of their possible roles.
So what happens next?
Tiu says the process is clear — and slow.
If prosecutors want to go after the others,
they must file a separate case for each one.
A fresh document.
A new set of charges.
One by one.
“It’s the next logical step,” he said.
“But they will make priorities… probably not all of them.”
And who comes first?
Tiu didn’t name names directly —
but he pointed to a likely focus:
top police leadership… the implementing generals.
Because even if charges are filed,
there’s another hurdle.
Arrest.
Transfer to The Hague.
Only then… can trial begin.
Inside the case against Duterte, prosecutors laid out a chilling picture.
They described what they called the “Davao model.”
A system… structured like a pyramid.
With Duterte at the very top.
When he became president,
they say he brought key figures from Davao
into powerful national positions.
Step by step… consolidating control.
At one point, the prosecution even claimed
these co-perpetrators helped “control the executive.”
Among those named:
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Vicente Danao.
Camilo Cascolan.
Oscar Albayalde.
Bong Go.
Dante Gierran.
Vitaliano Aguirre II.
Isidro Lapeña.
Big names.
Familiar faces.
But being named… is not the same as being arrested.
ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti made that clear:
It’s still up to prosecutors to decide
who to charge —
and when.
Then came Thursday.
A turning point.
The ICC officially confirmed the charges against Duterte
and moved the case forward to trial.
For Tiu, it was expected.
“The prosecution met the burden,” he said.
But the fight is far from over.
Because at trial, the standard rises.
From “sufficient evidence”…
to something much harder:
guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
And that next chapter?
It could begin as early as October 2026…
or stretch into early 2027.
For now, one thing is clear:
Duterte stands alone in this case.
But the story…
is far from finished.
