[Rappler’s Best] The Davao Boys and the Ilocano cronies

Did you find yourselves caught in the Valentine rush over the weekend? In this story, we bring you to Dangwa, the flower market that has outlasted the ravages of weather and time.

For many Filipinos, however, Saturday, February 14, was a gift that they did not see coming: the release of the names of the eight alleged indirect co-perpetrators of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte in the crimes against humanity charges that he’s facing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. 

The pre-trial of Duterte, or confirmation of charges hearing, begins next Monday, February 23, and it will last the entire week. Jodesz Gavilan walks us through what is expected to happen in those five days here.

Six of Duterte’s eight alleged co-perpetrators are the so-called “Davao Boys,” who are either from Davao or had spent critical times of their career there. 

• Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa both hail from the Davao region, their careers growing exponentially after Duterte became president and culminating in their impressive Top 5 showing in the 2022 senatorial elections. When they ran for reelection in 2025, Go landed No 1 and Dela Rosa at No 3. 
• In the ICC prosecutor’s document containing charges, or DCC, Go and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dela Rosa were accused of using the Davao police to kill suspected criminals. 
• Another former PNP chief, Vicente Danao, whose stars as a cop rose in Davao, is also on the list. Here’s a profile. 
• Yet another former PNP chief, the late Camilo “Pikoy” Cascolan who was not from Davao but held critical posts in the region, is also on the list. He was Dela Rosa’s reported sidekick in crafting Oplan Double Barrel, the blueprint that turned their Davao kill template into a nationwide project. He died in 2023; here’s a profile.
• Two others on the list were also law enforcers in Davao: former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Dante Gierran, who was NBI agent in the city for nine years, and former drug enforcement agency head Isidro Lapeña, who had served both as city and regional police chief in Davao. Read more about them here.

If Duterte has his Davao Boys with blood on their hands, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also has his own Ilocano cronies who were showered with fat government contracts.

What rankles us is that Malacañang seems to be turning a blind eye to what, at the very least, are conflict-of-interest situations involving these Ilocanos.

• In this exclusive report, Lian Buan zeroes in on one property in Las Vegas worth $1.2 million that Marcos ally Lucille Angelus Guillen-Yapo, mayor of a Cagayan town, transferred to a US-based company which she also owns — a month after the flood control scandal broke. 
• The Guillens, a political dynasty in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, province of the Marcoses, are staunch allies of the First Family, in particular Ilocos Norte Congressman Sandro Marcos, the President’s eldest. 
• Eddie Guillen is currently the chief of the National Irrigation Administration. With him leading the agency, NIA awarded at least six contracts to a company owned by his relatives, a Rappler investigation found out. His wife Gina is mayor of Piddig. In the last decade, three companies that belong to their clan have been the top contractors of the public works department. 
• Another Ilocano and longtime aide of Marcos, Jose Cadiz Jr., is linked to a construction company that has cornered DPWH contracts in Ilocos Norte and is owned by his 21-year-old son. Cadiz resigned in December as justice undersecretary after Lian Buan’s exposé on him. But a month later, the President decided to retain him in the justice department.
• And let’s not forget Manuel Bonoan, another Ilocano who was Marcos’ first pick as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The President dragged his feet before letting go of Bonoan. A body formed by Marcos to investigate the scandal has recommended the filing of graft and other administrative complaints against him. When he was DPWH head, the department awarded a multi-billion contract to a company owned by the business partner of his daughter.

As cynics of this benighted land would say, weather-weather lang ‘yan. Unless the President can prove them wrong, of course.

Here are some of Rappler’s bests that you shouldn’t miss:

Victor Barreiro Jr. looks into the Epstein files that show how the late convict tried to clean up his image by outsourcing the work to Filipinos. A congressional probe into the matter is being eyed.

Marites Vitug asks: Is China out to weaken Marcos? 

Jairo Bolledo explains a landmark Supreme Court decision about same-sex couples being co-owners of their properties.

Bea Cupin sits down with maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal, who chides Senator Rodante Marcoleta for his misplaced and controversial statements on the West Philippine Sea. Watch the full Rappler Talk episode here.

Jee Geronimo interviews Jim Simon, CEO of Oceana marine conservation group, and its vice president Von Hernandez, about the Philippine fisheries’ sector and lessons the world can learn from the country’s oceans.

At this regular dating event, people pitch their friends to potential lovers

It hopes to offer a different experience as it takes things offline.

From hole-in-the-wall to global dimsum star: How joining the Jollibee Group changed Tim Ho Wan

Tim Ho Wan has doubled its store network in Hong Kong and now has a total of 85 stores across various markets in the world.

End of an era: PH’s oldest bus line, Philtranco, closes after 112 years

This ends 112 years of transporting millions of Filipinos.

What the Makati–Infradev settlement means for the city’s subway plan

City hall effectively takes full control of the venture.

LIST: What are the issues raised in Sara Duterte impeachment complaints?

The complaints share numerous arguments, from Duterte’s alleged mishandling of confidential funds, to her apparent threats to the life of President Marcos and his family.

Worsening floods? Stop Manila Bay reclamations, say groups

Reclamations at the Manila Bay are revived as an issue, with one petition reaching Malacañang.

– Rappler.com

Rappler’s Best is a weekly newsletter of our top picks delivered straight to your inbox every Monday. Visit rappler.com/newsletters to subscribe.

The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Rappler.