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A fact-check by Rappler has debunked claims that Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro made statements about the Duterte family needing to resign from government positions to secure former President Rodrigo Duterte’s release from International Criminal Court (ICC) detention.
The false claim circulated on social media through a graphic posted on December 2, featuring split images of Castro and the former president. Text overlaid on the image claimed: “Atty. Claire Castro said that for Rodrigo Roa Duterte to be freed, the entire Duterte family needs to resign from government.”
Rappler’s investigation found no evidence that Castro ever made such statements in any official capacity, press briefings, or media interviews. The fabricated claim began spreading shortly after the ICC Appeals Chamber denied Duterte’s appeal for interim release on November 28.
The fact-checking team determined that the statement was likely misattributed from remarks made by ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti during a November 29 interview. Following the rejection of Duterte’s appeal, Conti discussed potential strategies for the former president’s legal team, suggesting that if Vice President Sara Duterte and other family members resigned from their government positions, it might demonstrate diminished influence and weakened networks of power—potentially strengthening a future release request.
The former president remains detained at the ICC facility in The Hague, Netherlands, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s controversial war on drugs campaign. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber initially denied his request for interim release in October, and the Appeals Chamber subsequently rejected his appeal, ensuring his continued detention as legal proceedings advance.
The case has created significant tension within Philippine politics, with the Duterte family publicly opposing the detention. Vice President Sara Duterte previously characterized her father’s arrest as a “kidnapping” and made controversial statements about “breaking him out”—remarks later cited as one factor in the court’s decision to deny interim release. Following the November 28 ruling, she traveled to The Hague to visit her father.
Other family members, including Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, initially condemned the ICC’s decision as a “miscarriage of justice.” However, the family later released a statement accepting the Appeals Chamber’s ruling “with peaceful hearts.”
The circulation of this fabricated claim highlights ongoing challenges with misinformation in Philippine social media, particularly regarding high-profile political cases. At the time of fact-checking, the false graphic had garnered 170 reactions, 205 comments, and five shares on social media platforms.
The ICC case against the former president continues to be closely watched both domestically and internationally, as it represents one of the most significant legal challenges to emerge from his controversial six-year presidency, which ended in 2022.
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7 Comments
This clarification from the PCO Undersecretary helps provide more context around the ICC’s ruling and the ongoing legal proceedings. It’s good to see the disinformation around this case being addressed promptly.
The false claim about the Duterte family needing to resign is quite concerning. Spreading misinformation on high-profile legal cases can undermine public trust and understanding. Fact-checking is crucial in these situations.
The ICC’s decision to deny Duterte’s appeal for interim release suggests the court believes there is sufficient evidence to warrant his continued detention. I’m curious to see how his legal team will proceed from here.
I appreciate the diligence of the fact-checking team in investigating this matter and setting the record straight. Maintaining transparency and accuracy around such sensitive legal proceedings is essential.
The ICC’s decision to deny Duterte’s appeal suggests the court believes the case against him has merit. I’m curious to see how his legal team responds and what the next steps in the proceedings will be.
Interesting development in the Duterte ICC case. Glad to see the fact-check debunking the false claim about the Duterte family needing to resign. It’s important to rely on official sources and verified information on such high-profile legal matters.
It’s important for the public to have access to accurate, verified information on this case. The Rappler fact-check helps provide much-needed clarity and corrects the record on the misleading social media claim.