FACT CHECK: News graphic claiming ICC will release Duterte is fake

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Duterte remains detained in The Hague, Netherlands, as the ICC continues to review his case, with key rulings expected to be issued by the end of April 2026

Claim: A news report states that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered the release of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim was posted in a Facebook group of Duterte supporters with 33,000 members and, as of writing, has garnered 155 likes, 33 comments, and 9 shares.

The post features a purported CNN news graphic showing photos of Duterte and Senator Robinhood Padilla. Overlaid text on the image reads: “Breaking News. ICC decides to release Rodrigo Duterte. The decision follows a signature campaign submitted by Robin Padilla in the Supreme Court.”

The caption in the post states: “Please release him now!! Masyado nang malaki ang sugat ng Pilipinas kailangan na namin ulit ng isang Duterte.” 

(The Philippines’ wounds are too deep; we need another Duterte.)

The facts: The ICC has not ordered Duterte’s release. There are no official records, court documents, or credible news reports confirming any such action.

Duterte remains detained at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands, following his March 11, 2025, arrest on crimes against humanity charges related to his administration’s bloody war on drugs. The claim of his release is based solely on a fake news graphic.

The post also misleads by linking Duterte’s supposed release to a signature campaign backed by Padilla, urging the Supreme Court to act on petitions regarding Duterte’s arrest. The former president’s supporters said around 238,000 signatures have been submitted for the campaign as of March 2026.

These efforts, however, are addressed to the Philippine judiciary and do not affect the ICC, which operates independently.

ICC detention: The ICC is expected to issue key rulings by the end of April 2026. The pre-trial chamber will decide whether Duterte’s case proceeds to trial, assessing whether there are substantial grounds linking him to killings from his bloody drug war. (READ: Will there be a Duterte trial? ICC decision due by end of April)

The ICC appeals chamber will also rule on Duterte’s challenge to the court’s jurisdiction, with his team arguing that the ICC no longer has authority after the Philippines withdrew from the court in 2019. However, the pre-trial chamber had already ruled in 2025 that jurisdiction remains valid since the alleged crimes occurred while the country was still a member of the court. The April 22 decision will determine whether that ruling stands.

Duterte has been detained in The Hague since March 2025, and if the charges are confirmed, a full trial could begin by late 2026. 

Public support: A March 2026 WR Numero survey found that most Filipinos support Duterte facing trial at the ICC, with nearly six in ten saying he should personally answer the charges. More than half also believe that his alleged co-perpetrators should be arrested.

Despite this, public trust in the ICC remains divided. Roughly equal portions of respondents said they trust the tribunal, distrust it, or remain uncertain about its fairness. The survey also showed that more Filipinos oppose the idea of the Philippines rejoining the ICC. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com

Marjuice Destinado is a senior political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU) and an alumna of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2025.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.