A fake quote card attributing a resignation threat to human rights lawyer Kristina Conti over death penalty reinstatement has been debunked by Rappler. The post lacks any credible source and misidentifies her as 'Rep. Conti.' There are no recent discussions about reviving capital punishment in the Philippines.
On January 19, 2026, a Facebook post featuring a quote card went viral, claiming that Kristina Conti, an ICC-accredited assistant to counsel, would resign and abandon the extrajudicial killings (EJK) case if the death penalty were reinstated. The attributed quote read: “Kung ibalik man ang death penalty mag resign nalang ako. Iwanan ko [muna] itong EJK [extrajudicial killings].” It garnered 5,200 reactions, 4,000 comments, and 152 shares.
Rappler's fact check confirms the quote card is fabricated, as the post provides no credible source or interview to back the claim. It also erroneously labels Conti as “Rep. Conti,” when she is a lawyer and the regional secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).
There are no recent initiatives to reinstate the death penalty, abolished in 2006. In October 2025, Malacañang stated there were no discussions to revive capital punishment. The NUPL, where Conti serves, has firmly opposed it. In 2020, the NUPL, along with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Free Legal Assistance Group, argued that the death penalty disproportionately affects the poor and carries the risk of irreversible errors.
Conti represents victims of the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, who faces crimes against humanity charges at the ICC. Her role involves providing legal support to ICC-accredited lawyers, including Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres, designated as common legal representatives for victims. Duterte was arrested in March 2025, and he was allowed to be absent from the confirmation of charges hearing on February 23, 2026, according to ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet: “Note that the suspect’s absence next week is based on the waiver of the suspect, not on reasons related to health.”
