Following former president Rodrigo Duterte’s first public appearance in more than a year, a viral Facebook video circulating online claims that he is returning home. This is not true.
On Sept. 16, a Facebook user uploaded a 15-second reel showing two photos of the former chief executive during the status conference at the International Criminal Court. The reel displayed the following superimposed text:
“BREAKING NEWS. Wow uuwi na Si (sic) tatay digong (Wow, Tatay Digong is coming home).”
The clip featured an audio from a news report saying:
“Tinapos na ng International Criminal Court o ICC ang confirmations of charges hearing laban kay dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte
(The International Criminal Court (ICC) has concluded the confirmation of charges hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte).”
The voice of British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, the former lead counsel of Duterte, can also be heard at the 0:08 mark of the clip. However, his statement is cut off mid-sentence:
“I ask you to let Rodrigo Duterte return to the Philippines, not to govern, but simply…”
Duterte is not returning to the Philippines. In fact, on the same day the false claim was posted, the trial judges handling his case issued a decision ordering his continued detention at the ICC.
The Trial Chamber III ruled that, in light of recent developments in his case leading to trial, there is an increased likelihood of Duterte “absconding and/or obstructing or endangering the investigation or the court proceedings.”
The audio in the clip, meanwhile, came from a Feb. 28 report of UNTV News and Rescue when the Pre-Trial Chamber I concluded its four-day confirmation of charges hearing on Duterte’s case. On April 23, the same chamber confirmed all charges against Duterte and committed him to a trial.
The false video emerged a few hours after the third status conference at the ICC, which addressed administrative and procedural matters in preparation for Duterte’s trial. The former president attended the hearing in-person, marking his first public appearance since March 14, 2025.
Published by an FB user, the viral reel has so far received 3.5 million views; 128,000 reactions, 6,000 comments; and 9,000 shares.
