Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday clarified that there is still no arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, contradicting claims made by Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte.
“Hindi po totoo ‘yun, wala pang warrant na inilalabas [ang ICC] para kanino man,” Trillanes said during an exclusive interview on DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan.
The claims originated from a social media post by Duterte, who cited an alleged “highly reliable source” claiming that the ICC had already issued arrest warrants against Go and two former police officials.
He explained that if there is any arrest warrant, it may still take several months before it is issued, as the “certainty of conviction” threshold must first be met before the issuance of an arrest warrant.
“Kung mayroon man mga ilang buwan pa ang aantayin natin kasi malayo-layo pa bago maabot ang threshold. ‘Yung evidence na requirement na ICC bago mag isyu ng warrant ay certainty of conviction. ‘Yan ang mataas na level,” he said.
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po yung imbestigasyon nila [ICC]. Kaya yung pagkalap ng mga dokumento, pakikipag-usap sa mga testigo ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin,” ayon kay Trillanes.
Trillanes also said ICC investigations continue as part of its mandate and are not prohibited, noting that cases may still fall under its jurisdiction for alleged crimes committed during the period when the Philippines was a member of the court.
“As long as yung krimen ay ginawa noong miyembro pa tayo covered pa ‘yun ng jurisdiction at sinang-ayunan ng Korte Suprema,” he said.
When asked about allegations naming Go as a co-perpetrator despite his former role as a presidential assistant, Trillanes cited witness accounts alleging involvement in illegal activities.
According to the former lawmaker, Go was accused by a witness of providing payments and issuing orders related to the killings of rivals of their alleged drug cartel, including those of competing drug lords allegedly linked to allies such as Michael Yang.
“May mga testigo na nagsabi na siya yung taga-bigay ng bayad at mayroon din siyang utos tungkol sa mga pagpatay sa kalaban ng kanilang drug cartel, ‘yung mga karibal ng kanilang drug lord na kakampi kagaya ni Michael Yang. Ito po yung mga pinatay na mga Chinese sa loob ng mga kulungan ang sabi ng testigo si Bong Go ang pinakang boss nila,” the former senator said.
Trillanes also said that Senator Bato Dela Rosa was the “top boss” of police officers within the regular organization of the PNP under Oplan Tokhang, while Go was allegedly responsible for the killings of major drug lords.
He added, “Dito kasi si Bato [Dela Rosa] sila ‘yung pinakaboss nung mga pulis na nasa regular na organisasyon ng PNP, yung Oplan Tokhang. Sila yung mga pumapatay ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Yung mga nakahandusay sa kalye.”
“Ito namang grupo nila Bong Go ito naman ‘yung mga pumapatay ng kalaban nung mga drug lord na kasabwat nila Duterte,“ he said.
On the involvement of former Philippine National Police (PNP) officials, including former chief Oscar Albayalde and former officer Vicente Danao, Trillanes said that, based on his information, Albayalde would still be investigated and may eventually be issued a warrant.
He added that former PNP chief Vicente Danao was allegedly a co-perpetrator during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s time in Davao, particularly in relation to the so-called “Davao Death Squad,” although he believes the case may not reach him.
Danao served as chief of the Davao City police from 2013 to 2016. He later served as director of the Manila Police District (MPD) from 2018 to 2019.
The ICC cited Danao’s statement, in which he said he will “go after” and “kill” those who he discover are involved in drugs.
Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla dismissed the claims that an ICC arrest warrant had already been issued against Go.
PNP chief Gen, Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also said it had no knowledge of any such warrant, while the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed it has not received any official communication from the ICC regarding the matter.
As of Friday, Philippine authorities have not confirmed the existence of any ICC arrest warrant involving Go or any of the individuals mentioned in the circulating claims.
