A YouTube video claims that the International Criminal Court has sentenced former president Rodrigo Duterte to 120 years in prison. This is false.
First published on April 2, the 26-minute and 17-second clip carried a thumbnail showing photos of the former president, ICC Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, and Vice President Sara Duterte. It includes the superimposed text:
“KULONG NG 120 YEARS?! DIGONG HINATULAN NG ICC
(In prison for 120 years?! Digong sentenced by the ICC)?!”
On the same day, a netizen shared the video’s thumbnail on Facebook and added the phrase:
“SAN KAPA KARMA IS REAL
(What else is there? Karma is real).”
There has been no update on the complaint against the detained former president since the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I concluded the confirmation of charges hearing last Feb. 27. The PTC is due to issue a written decision within 60 days if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial, stop the proceedings, or request for additional evidence.
All public updates related to the case are published by the ICC on its official website.
The YouTube video merely showed a portion of a July 12, 2025 reel of a pro-Duterte vlogger, in which he wrongly said that Duterte had been held by the ICC for more than 120 years.
In other words, there is not even a case or trial yet against Duterte so there can be no sentencing.
If the charges do proceed to trial and the case results in a conviction, the ICC judges may impose a prison sentence of up to 30 years or life imprisonment.
The false video surfaced on the same day that the ICC Appeals Chamber announced in a scheduling order that it would issue its judgment on Duterte’s appeal regarding jurisdiction over the charges of crimes against humanity on April 22.
As of writing, the video published by YouTube channel NIOLO RANDOM NEWS (created March 1, 2013) amassed 53,000 views; 2,800 likes; and 264 comments. A copy posted by an FB user received 261 likes; 164 comments; and 63 shares.
