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In a significant development in the ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, false claims about the death of presiding judge Iulia Motoc have been circulating widely on social media, adding another layer of controversy to an already contentious legal proceeding.
The rumors, which began spreading on January 6, coincided with the ICC’s rejection of a request from Duterte’s legal team to access communications involving medical experts assessing his fitness to stand trial. A Facebook reel claiming Judge Motoc had fallen into a coma and subsequently died has garnered over 565,000 views and thousands of reactions and shares.
Court records clearly refute these claims. Judge Motoc’s name and signature appear on an ICC decision dated January 7, 2026, in which the court denied the Duterte team’s request for an expert report on risk factors under the Rome Statute. No credible news organizations have reported any health issues affecting the Romanian jurist.
This appears to be part of a pattern of disinformation surrounding key figures involved in Duterte’s prosecution. Similar false claims about the death of Philippine Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla were recently debunked after he appeared live on radio just days after rumors of his demise began circulating.
Remulla has been a focal point for Duterte supporters’ anger since April 2025, when he acknowledged that clearances from his department played a crucial role in Duterte’s arrest and transfer to the ICC headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.
Judge Motoc, who presides over Pre-Trial Chamber I handling Duterte’s case, has served at the ICC since March 11, 2024 – exactly one year before Duterte’s arrest. Her distinguished legal career includes service as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights from 2013 to 2023, and work as a United Nations Special Rapporteur for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
With academic credentials including a law degree from the University of Bucharest and a doctorate in International Law from the University Paul Cezanne, Motoc brings substantial expertise to the high-profile case. However, her involvement has made her a target for online harassment, with Duterte supporters reportedly spamming her social media accounts and demanding the former president’s release.
Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, three years after completing his presidential term, on charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s controversial war on drugs and alleged extrajudicial killings. He remains in detention after the ICC rejected his appeal for interim release in November 2025.
The case represents a landmark in international justice, as Duterte becomes one of few former heads of state to face prosecution at the ICC. His administration’s drug war, which human rights organizations claim resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings, has drawn international condemnation despite maintaining popular support among many Filipinos.
The circulation of false information about Judge Motoc highlights the increasingly polarized information environment surrounding the case, with social media becoming a battleground for competing narratives about the legitimacy of the proceedings against the former Philippine leader.
As the case progresses, fact-checkers and media organizations continue working to separate fact from fiction in what has become one of Southeast Asia’s most closely watched legal proceedings in recent memory.
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9 Comments
This is an important fact check on the false rumors surrounding Judge Motoc. It’s critical that the ICC proceedings against Duterte are not undermined by such disinformation campaigns.
This seems like a coordinated effort to discredit the ICC’s work on the Duterte case. Glad to see they’re taking steps to combat these false rumors about Judge Motoc.
Disturbing to see these kinds of false narratives spreading on social media. It’s crucial that the public has access to reliable information about key figures in the Duterte prosecution.
This is a concerning development, but I’m reassured to see the court taking decisive action to refute the false rumors about Judge Motoc. Transparency and factual reporting are essential.
False claims about the health of Judge Motoc are concerning, but I’m glad the court has set the record straight. Maintaining the integrity of these proceedings is paramount.
This disinformation seems like an attempt to sow confusion and undermine confidence in the ICC’s handling of the Duterte case. Good to see the court pushing back forcefully against these rumors.
Glad to see the court has firmly refuted these bogus claims about Judge Motoc’s wellbeing. Transparency and factual reporting are essential for the integrity of this high-profile case.
Glad to see the ICC taking this issue seriously and pushing back against the false claims about Judge Motoc. Maintaining the credibility of these proceedings is paramount.
Disturbing to see the spread of these baseless claims about Judge Motoc. The court’s clear refutation of the rumors is an important step in maintaining public trust.