Aguirre denies role in alleged ‘common plan’ for EJKs

Former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II denied allegations linking him to crimes against humanity charges filed before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.

In a statement sent to reporters on Sunday, 15 February 2026, Aguirre said he had no involvement in any extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and rejected claims that he was part of an alleged “common plan” to neutralize suspected criminals.

“Wala akong kinalaman sa akusasyon nila sa akin ng Crimes against Humanity. I did nothing wrong,” Aguirre said.

The ICC, in a public lesser redacted version of its “Document Containing the Charges” (DCC) released ahead of the confirmation of charges hearing set to begin on 23 February, identified Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, along with Aguirre, as among the alleged co-perpetrators of Duterte.

According to ICC prosecutors, Duterte and his alleged co-perpetrators “shared a common plan or agreement to ‘neutralise’ alleged criminals in the Philippines (including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production) through violent crimes including murder” from at least Nov. 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019.

The prosecution said Go served as Duterte’s longtime assistant during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as president, while dela Rosa was Davao City police chief and eventually chief of the Philippine National Police under Duterte’s administration.

Aguirre was identified as having served as legal counsel for Duterte and members of the so-called Davao Death Squad when Duterte was mayor, and later as justice secretary from June 30, 2016, to April 5, 2018.

In response, Aguirre acknowledged that he acted as counsel for Duterte and other suspected members of the alleged Davao Death Squad in 2009 but stressed that it was part of his duties as a lawyer.

“That’s true. But I was just exercising my profession as a lawyer, and nothing is wrong with that. I never conspired or participated in any extrajudicial killings,” he said, adding that the Philippines was not yet a member of the ICC at the time.

He also denied engaging in or supporting any EJKs during his tenure as justice secretary.

“I hereby reiterate that I never engaged in any EJK or supported its implementation,” Aguirre said. “I believe that some people are trying very hard to link me to this war on drugs to make it appear that EJK was part of their so-called common plan or a national policy of the Duterte administration for their EJK accusations against PRRD to be credible.”

Aguirre further claimed he was not part of the implementation of the government’s anti-drug campaign.

“I was never part of this war on drugs and never participated in its implementation, if ever it was true,” he said.

He cited his role in bringing the families of slain teenagers Kian delos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, and Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman to Malacañang for a meeting with Duterte.

Following the meeting, Aguirre said, the police officers involved in the killings were prosecuted and eventually convicted by the courts.

Also named by ICC prosecutors as alleged co-perpetrators were former police officials Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, Dante Gierran, and Isidro Lapeña, who served in various capacities under Duterte during his time as Davao City mayor and president. Gierran also previously headed the National Bureau of Investigation.

The document likewise referred to “other members of the PNP and high-ranking government officials” as part of the alleged “common plan.”

The upcoming confirmation of charges hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial against Duterte before the ICC, which has been investigating alleged crimes linked to the administration’s anti-drug campaign.