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The former president is accused of crimes against humanity for at least 43 deaths. The ICC warrant also cites the thousands dead owing to Duterte’s ‘organizational policy.’
Claim: Only 19 to 24 deaths were attributed to the war on drugs during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, as cited in the case folders of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found on a March 14 post on the Facebook page “Jay sonza” by the former broadcaster with the same name.
The post states: “Actual death attributed to the War on Drugs of the government appearing in the ICC case folders is 19 to 24 only. And they label it: “Crimes against Humanity.”
Both the caption and social media comments on the post seemingly question how this figure amounted to the crimes against humanity charge against Duterte.
As of writing, the post already has around 1,400 reactions, 191 comments, and 165 shares. It was made following the March 11 arrest of Duterte in relation to his administration’s bloody drug war that killed close to 30,000 people, as well as the extrajudicial killings in Davao City when he was mayor.
The facts: Contrary to the claim, the charges against Duterte involve at least 43 deaths, not just 19 to 24, as claimed in the post. The arrest warrant also mentions thousands of deaths linked to the drug war.
The ICC’s warrant of arrest for Duterte stated the following incidents:
“a. at least 19 persons, allegedly drug pushers or thieves, were killed by members of the DDS [Davao Death Squad] in various locations in or around Davao City”;
“b. at least 24 persons, allegedly criminals – such as drug pushers and thieves – or drug users, were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines’ law enforcement, sometimes with the assistance of persons who were not part of the police, at various locations in the Philippines.”
Section III.A.1 of the warrant (“Contextual elements”) stated that “thousands [sic] people appear to have been killed, a sample of which is analysed in the section below” — referring to the section “The alleged crimes” where the 43 deaths were cited.
It also stated that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the attacks were “both widespread and systematic,” pursuant to an “organizational policy” during the time that Duterte led the Davao Death Squad and while he was president.
Additionally, the public redacted version of the ICC prosecutor’s application for an arrest warrant also noted that the identified individual acts were a “representative sample” of multiple acts of violence “collectively amounting to a course of conduct directed against the civilian population of the Philippines.”
Duterte and the ICC: On March 14, Duterte appeared for the first time before the ICC. While he was not physically present, he followed the proceedings through a video stream from the nearby Scheveningen prison where he is now detained.
During the hearing, Duterte confirmed his identity and that he was aware of the charges against him. Former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea served as his counsel.
The charges of “murder of at least 19 persons” and “murder of at least 24 persons” mentioned in the warrant were also read during the hearing, starting at the 10:34 mark of the ICC’s video coverage.
Duterte’s next hearing, which is for the confirmation of charges, is set for September 23, 2025. (LIVE UPDATES: Rodrigo Duterte arrested over ICC case)
Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has previously debunked claims related to the ICC. Following Duterte’s arrest, several false claims have circulated on social media:
- FACT CHECK: Contrary to claims, ICC retains jurisdiction over PH drug war cases
- FACT CHECK: Contrary to claim, news report did not state ICC dismissal of Duterte case
- FACT CHECK: Liza Marcos not detained in US, no exchange deal for Duterte release
- FACT CHECK: ‘Duterte’ chants in video are manipulated, not taken in Netherlands
- FACT CHECK: Quote cards of Trump’s statements on Duterte arrest are fake
- FACT CHECK: Vice Ganda quote card on Duterte drug war, pandemic response is fake
Rappler has also previously fact-checked numerous false claims from Sonza, with the latest published on February 6. – Percival Bueser/ Rappler.com
Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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.
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