By LYJAH TIFFANY BONZO, GMA News Published May 24, 2026 5:28pm + Add GMA on Google Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. Senate President Allan Peter Cayetano’s latest statement defending the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs campaign could jeopardize former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bid for release, International Criminal Court Assistant to Counsel Atty. Kristina Conti said Sunday. Conti said Cayetano’s statement shows that Duterte still has strong ties to power in the Philippines —power the ICC believes could help him evade justice or interfere with the investigation and evidence.“E ‘yung statement lang ni Allan Peter Cayetano… na sinasabi niyang it was about [pro] life, ang gustong patayin ay drugs sa war on drugs. Senyales na ‘yon na malakas pa rin ang kapit at mukhang may tutulong sa kaniyang tumakas kung sakaling makauwi,” Conti said. (The statement by Alan Peter Cayetano… where he says it was about [pro] life, that what they wanted to kill in the war on drugs were the drugs. That is already a sign that his influence remains strong, and it looks like someone will help him escape if ever he returns home.)“Kaya kung may sisihin po na hindi makalabas para po sa supporter ng dating pangulo, ang sisihin ninyo po ay si Duterte sa pag gawa niya ng excuse letter na ganiyan [at] si Allan Peter Cayetano, isama ninyo na dahil dine-defend niya yung war on drugs,” she added.(So if the former president's supporters want to blame someone because he can’t come out, blame Duterte for making an excuse letter like that, and include Alan Peter Cayetano, because he is defending the war on drugs.)In a Facebook livestream video Cayetano shared on Saturday, he claimed that Duterte’s war on drugs campaign was a “human rights” and “pro-life” campaign, and said that for many of its supporters, it was seen as a legitimate effort to protect communities.To recall, Cayetano was Duterte’s running mate in the 2016 presidential elections. Under the Duterte administration, he served as foreign affairs secretary before later becoming House speaker.GMA News has reached out to Cayetano for comment on Conti’s statements.‘Most at risk’ for Bato’s escapeOn Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa’s recent escape from the Senate, according to Conti, Senator Robin Padilla is the ‘most at risk’ of being held accountable for the equivalent of obstruction of justice in ICC rules. “Sa ICC, ang parang equivalent doon ay (In the ICC, its equivalent is) Article 70, or offenses against the administration of justice,” the lawyer explained.However, evidence must be presented to substantiate that the escape was carried out systematically.“Kaya ang pinaka at risk po ay si Senator Padilla, dahil sa panahon na tinakas niya, isinama niya palabas si Bato dela Rosa, fugitive na maituturing si Bato noon,” she added. (So the one most at risk is Senator Padilla, because back when he helped him escape, he brought Bato dela Rosa along with him, and Bato could be considered a fugitive at that time.)The ICC has already been informed of this incident, according to Conti.Dela Rosa was one of the seven co-perpetuators named by the ICC in the crimes against humanity case that former president Rodrigo Duterte is currently facing for his war on drugs campaign. “Ito pong pitong pangalan, kasama si Senator Bong Go, ay posibleng subject ng warrant of arrest. Pero siyempre iba-iba rin ang level of responsibility nila,” she said.(These seven names, including Senator Bong Go, are possible subjects of an arrest warrant. But of course, their levels of responsibility differ as well.)Duterte’s 1st ICC status conferenceOn May 27, 2026, the Trial Chamber III of the ICC will hold its first status conference on the crimes against humanity case against Duterte.According to Conti, the chamber's upcoming discussions will include the trial schedule and languages, noting her hope that the court will consider adding Bisaya or Tagalog. —RF, GMA News