A video circulating on Facebook claims that former president Rodrigo Duterte has been freed as he supposedly exited the premises of the International Criminal Court detention center. This is false.
Posted on June 15, 2025, the clip shows someone leaving the ICC with people chanting “Duterte!”. The video included an overlaid text that read:
“Yes makakauwi na. Finally Duterte is free”
Also on that day, another user posted the same misleading video with the caption:
“BREAKING NEWS PRESIDENT DUTERTE LAYA NA”
The footage, originally taken on March 14, 2025, does not show the former president but rather Vice President Sara Duterte leaving the ICC courtroom after her father’s initial appearance before the ICC Pre-trial Chamber I.
The clip was taken when the pre-trial hearing concluded, where the vice president briefly waved to supporters gathered outside the ICC courtroom.
Read the full story on VERA Files Fact Check.