Philippine Court Denies Duterte’s Release, Citation Attributes Fake ICC Judge

The International Criminal Court’s Duterte case continues to draw misinformation online, as social media accounts circulate fabricated quotes from a non-existent ICC judge expressing sympathy for the former Philippine president.

Several Facebook posts in pro-Duterte groups have recently shared quote cards allegedly from an ICC judge named “Aishau Spede Adeyemi,” who supposedly criticized the denial of Rodrigo Duterte’s interim release bid. The posts appeared between December 13-15 in groups including “Sara Duterte 2028” and “SOLID DUTERTE DIEHARD SUPPORTERS WORLDWIDE,” garnering over 1,100 reactions and numerous supportive comments from users thanking the purported judge.

However, verification against official ICC records confirms no judge by the name Aishau Spede Adeyemi has ever served on the court. The fabricated name appears to be a reference to online streamer Darren Watkins Jr., known as “IShowSpeed,” whose image was used in the fraudulent quote cards.

This misinformation campaign comes after a significant legal development in Duterte’s case. On November 28, the ICC appeals chamber unanimously denied the Duterte camp’s request for interim release, with Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza delivering the decision. The former president faces serious charges at the international court, including three counts of crimes against humanity of murder related to his controversial war on drugs campaign and alleged connections to the Davao Death Squad.

The fabricated quotes appear designed to create the impression of international sympathy for Duterte’s legal situation. The ICC has yet to schedule Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing, which was postponed pending determination of his fitness to stand trial—an issue raised by his defense team. The court entered its annual recess on December 12 and will resume operations on January 5, 2026.

This incident represents part of a broader pattern of misinformation surrounding the Duterte ICC case. Just days earlier, on December 16, fact-checkers identified another fabricated quote attributed to a misidentified ICC prosecutor.

The case against Duterte relates to 49 incidents of killings involving 78 victims from his administration’s drug war and the shadowy Davao Death Squad operations. The ICC investigation has become a flashpoint in Philippine politics, with supporters and opponents of the former president often clashing over the legitimacy of the proceedings.

Social media platforms continue to serve as fertile ground for such misinformation, with fabricated content often gaining traction in echo chambers of political support. The quote cards’ circulation in dedicated pro-Duterte groups highlights how targeted misinformation can quickly spread among sympathetic audiences.

Media literacy experts recommend that users verify information about international legal proceedings through official channels, such as the ICC’s website, which maintains current and historical records of all judges who have served on the court.

The ICC case against Duterte represents one of the most significant international legal challenges faced by a former Philippine leader, drawing attention to alleged human rights abuses during his presidency’s controversial war on drugs campaign, which human rights organizations claim resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings.