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Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. —MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte should be charged with crimes against humanity concerning his drug war if proven that he committed an offense, according to reelectionist Sen.
Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. During the “Tanong ng Bayan” senatorial face-off for the 2025 elections aired by GMA Network on Saturday night, Dela Rosa said that filing a complaint against Duterte should be “conditional.” READ: Quad comm seeks crimes against humanity raps vs Duterte, Bato, Bong Go “It could be yes and no.
Yes in the sense na nobody is above the law. If he committed a crime, then let’s file a case. But if he did not and the charges are only based on other people’s offenses, then no,” he said in Filipino.
“Because guilt is personal. Let us not let Duterte answer for the crimes of the ninja cops. That’s why three years after his presidency, there is still no case,” he added.
In December 2024, the House of Representatives quad committee recommended the filing of complaints against Duterte, Dela Rosa, and the following individuals for allegedly violating Republic Act No. 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity: Meanwhile, below is the stance of other senatorial candidates concerning the filing of charges against Duterte: Castro said the filing of complaints against Duterte and others involved in the drug war is already “long overdue.” Citing previous hearings of the quad panel, Castro pointed out that Duterte admitted that he killed some people.
On November 13, 2024, Duterte attended the quad panel’s hearing and revealed that he killed six or seven people when he was Davao City mayor. He added that he roamed the city waiting for the chance to kill criminals. He also said that he will take “full, legal, moral responsibility” for his administration’s drug war.
“That’s why we need to file a complaint. Because who designed this policy (drug war)? It’s him. He also caused the killings.
Even Senator Bato should face charges,” Castro said in Filipino. Dela Rosa then brought up a different topic. He asked about Castro’s conviction in a child abuse case.
Castro stood firm that what she did was right, saying that she only rescued the victims from harassment, intimidation, and threats. Castro and former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo allegedly held minors during a solidarity mission in Talaingod, Davao del Norte in November 2018.
Castro’s camp has already appealed the court’s decision. In a statement last year, Castro’s camp described the court’s decision as a “wrongful conviction” that “speaks of the continuing persecution of those who are helping and advocating for the rights of Lumad children and the persistent attacks on Lumad schools and communities.” Ocampo and Castro also pointed out that the court failed to investigate testimonies regarding threats and harassment against Lumad schools and its forcible closure.
In November 2018, Army-backed police arrested Ocampo and 17 other leaders of militant groups and volunteer “lumad” (indigenous people) teachers on human trafficking charges. Based on reports, Ocampo and other accused were supposed to deliver food supplies to a remote village in Talaingod and rescue dozens of lumad teachers and pupils allegedly being harassed by members of the armed paramilitary group called Alamara. Their actions were part of a solidarity mission that responded to an urgent appeal for help from lumad teachers of Salugpongan Ta’Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center in Barangay Palma Gil, where troops from the 56th Infantry Battalion (IB) and Alamara gunmen had allegedly imposed a food blockade.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Ocampo and his companions were in a five-vehicle convoy of more than 70 people, including 29 schoolchildren, when Talaingod police officers and soldiers from the 56th IB at Barangay Santo Niño stopped them at a checkpoint and arrested them.
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