A viral video using a spliced news report has falsely claimed that former President Rodrigo Duterte has returned to the Philippines from ICC detention. The clip originates from March, when he arrived from Hong Kong. Duterte remains detained in The Hague.
A 15-second video circulated on social media starting November 22, claiming that former President Rodrigo Duterte had returned to the Philippines. It garnered over 571,000 views, 775 comments, and 468 shares. The footage features GMA News anchors Raffy Tima and Connie Sison, stating phrases like 'Breaking news. Former president Rodrigo Duterte has returned to the country' and 'He was greeted at the airport by several Philippine National Police officers along with Interpol.'
However, the video manipulates an old report from March, when Duterte arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport after an event in Hong Kong. The original broadcast included 'after attending a gathering in Hong Kong last weekend,' a segment removed to suggest a recent return from The Hague, Netherlands.
Duterte has been detained in The Hague since March 12, facing ICC charges for crimes against humanity related to his drug war, which human rights groups say resulted in nearly 30,000 extrajudicial killings. Recently, the ICC's appeals chamber, led by Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, denied his interim release request, deeming the conditions insufficient to address risks such as flight or reoffending.
This echoes prior misinformation debunked by Rappler, including claims of ICC reversals on release and false dismissals of the drug war case. Such content undermines public awareness amid ongoing disinformation efforts.