MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II have issued strong denials following the International Criminal Court (ICC) disclosure naming them as alleged “co-perpetrators” in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
The two officials, along with Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and five others, were identified in a recently unsealed ICC document as part of the “hierarchy” that supposedly wielding de facto authority over the campaign’s triggermen.
Senator Bong Go’s Response
In a statement issued on Saturday, February 14, 2026, Senator Go dismissed the ICC’s allegations as “entirely unfounded, one-sided, and unfair.”
- Role Clarification: Go stated that his roles as Special Assistant to the President (2016–2018) and Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Davao (1998–2016) did not involve any authority over the drug war.
- Denial of Knowledge: He maintained he had no involvement in, or knowledge of, the alleged crimes, stating he served only in accordance with the “laws of man and the laws of God.”
- Focus on Duty: Go vowed not to let the “baseless accusations” distract him from his legislative duties.
Ex-DOJ Chief Vitaliano Aguirre’s Defense
Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II likewise maintained his innocence, asserting, “I did nothing wrong.”
- Legal Profession: Aguirre admitted to serving as counsel for Duterte and suspected Davao Death Squad (DDS) members in 2009, but argued he was simply exercising his profession as a lawyer.
- No Conspiracy: He denied ever participating in or supporting extrajudicial killings (EJKs), stating he believe people are “trying very hard” to link him to the drug war to make the ICC case more credible.
- Protection of Victims: Aguirre pointed out that during his tenure, he helped the families of high-profile victims like Kian Delos Santos meet with the President, which eventually led to the conviction of the involved police officers.
Robinhood Padilla Expresses Grief
The disclosure has deeply affected political allies in the Senate. Senator Robinhood Padilla shared in a radio interview that he was “brought to tears” and became “depressed” after reading the ICC report.
- Senate Impact: Padilla expressed worry about the future of the Senate’s “Duterte bloc” if Go and Dela Rosa were to be arrested.
- Call for Sovereignty: He appealed to the Philippine government to assert national sovereignty and block foreign courts from trying Filipino citizens.
- Senator Dela Rosa’s Status: Senator Dela Rosa remains in hiding since November 2025 following reports of an ICC warrant.
The ICC document, released by Pre-Trial Chamber I, alleges that the “hierarchy” of co-perpetrators facilitated the scaling up of local Davao-based death squad tactics to a national level. The confirmation of charges hearing, which will determine if the case against Rodrigo Duterte proceeds to trial, is scheduled for February 23, 2026.