Senator Go and Former Justice Chief Aguirre Firmly Deny ICC Drug War Charges
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II have strongly rejected allegations naming them as co-perpetrators in former President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial drug war campaign that claimed thousands of lives, predominantly among poor Filipino communities.
The International Criminal Court's Office of the Prosecutor identified both officials, along with Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and five others, as part of the operational hierarchy that orchestrated the anti-drug campaign during the Duterte administration.
Go Disputes All Allegations
In a detailed statement, Senator Go categorically disputed the charges, calling them "entirely unfounded, one-sided, unfair and bearing no relation to the reality" of his roles during his service as Special Assistant to the President from June 2016 to October 2018.
"I never had any involvement in, knowledge of, or authority over these allegations," Go emphasized, clarifying that he was never chief of the Presidential Management Staff as claimed by prosecutors.
The senator, known for his close ties to the former president, stressed that his service was conducted "in accordance with the laws of man and the laws of God" to assist fellow Filipinos, particularly the poor and vulnerable who turned to government for help.
Aguirre Maintains Innocence
Former Justice Secretary Aguirre, who served from June 2016 to April 2018, declared unequivocally: "I did nothing wrong."
While acknowledging his role as legal counsel for Duterte and suspected Davao Death Squad members in 2009, Aguirre defended his actions as legitimate professional practice. "I was just exercising my profession as a lawyer and nothing is wrong with that," he stated.
Aguirre highlighted his efforts to seek justice for drug war victims, including bringing the families of Kian Delos Santos, Carlo Arnais, and Kulot de Guzman to Malacañang to meet with President Duterte. Following these meetings, the police officers involved in their deaths were prosecuted and convicted.
Political Implications
Senator Robinhood Padilla, an ally of the accused officials, expressed emotional distress over the ICC disclosure, admitting he "cried and became depressed" upon learning of the charges against his Senate colleagues.
Padilla reached out to both senators offering assistance and consulted with Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano about the implications for minority senators.
The senator appealed to the government to assert national sovereignty and resist allowing Filipino citizens to be tried by foreign courts.
The Broader Investigation
The ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I document identifies eight individuals who allegedly wielded "de facto authority" over the assassination network targeting suspected drug offenders. Beyond Go, Aguirre, and dela Rosa, the list includes former police chiefs Vicente Danao Jr., Isidro Lapeña, Oscar Albayalde, Camilo Cascolan, and former NBI chief Dante Gierran.
Senator dela Rosa, who directed the anti-drug campaign as Duterte's first national police chief, has remained in hiding since November 2025 following reports of an ICC arrest warrant.
As these developments unfold, they represent a significant challenge to the current administration's approach to justice and accountability, testing the balance between national sovereignty and international legal obligations.