A reel spreading across social media platforms claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed the charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte. This is false.
The ICC in The Hague has yet to begin the trial of Duterte over his bloody war on drugs. It has set for Sept 23 the confirmation of charges against the former chief executive, who made an initial appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) in the Netherlands last Friday.
A reader submitted a clip for verification through VERA Files’ Misinformation Tip Line on Messenger. The text on the false video read:
“Patunay na dinismissed (sic) ng ICC ang case laban kay PRRD DRUG WAR” (Proof that the ICC dismissed the case against PRRD [president Rodrigo Roa Duterte)
and
“Dahil kulang at walang sapat na ebidensya ang inirepresenta sa knila.” (Because the evidence presented to them is insufficient.)
The circulating post flipped the facts stated in a July 19, 2023 PTV report – which was shown throughout the duration of the reel.
PTV had reported that the ICC dismissed the Philippines’ appeal to suspend investigations on Duterte’s drug war.
Some background on the case: the ICC’s pre-trial chamber I (PTC) authorized on Sept. 15, 2021 the ICC prosecutor to conduct formal investigations on the summary executions of Filipinos with unconfirmed drug-related accusations under the Duterte administration.
The Philippines appealed this decision at the ICC’s Appeals Court (AC).
In the AC’s July 18, 2023 decision, majority or three out of five judges ruled that there is “reasonable basis” for the investigation to proceed.
Duterte is currently in the custody of the ICC after he was arrested in Manila last March 11 for the alleged crime against humanity of murder in relation to his anti-illegal drug campaign while he was mayor of Davao City and during his presidency.
TikTok user @gyanlimcridle, one of the accounts which posted the reel, was created on Oct. 23, 2021 and has over 1,000 followers. The false video was posted on March 14 – the day Duterte appeared before the ICC’s PTC – and has garnered at least 27,000 likes and more than 4,000 shares.
