Duterte stays detained, along with his full trial set to start in November. There may be additionally no official announcement from the ICC confirming his supposed launch this July.
Declare: A video exhibits a information report about former president Rodrigo Duterte’s launch this July 2026.
Ranking: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The video posted on July 26 has already acquired 54,900 reactions, 9,600 shares, and 5,200 feedback as of writing.
The information reporter will be heard saying, “Mainit-init pang balita, PRRD makakauwi na sa Pilipinas ngayong buwan ng Hulyo 2026. Mga loyalista, iyak. Mga DDS, magdidiwang tayo sa pagbabalik ni Tatay Digong.”
(Breaking information: [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] is about to return to the Philippines this July 2026. Loyalists, you’re going to cry. [Duterte diehard supporters], allow us to rejoice the return of Father Digong.)
Many social media customers imagine the supposed information to be actual. One remark reads, “Salamat makakauwi na si Tatay Digong, tuloy ang laban.”
(Thanks, Father Digong can lastly come house. The struggle continues).
The details: The video is AI-generated. Hive Detect flagged the video as 99.9% prone to comprise AI-generated content material, whereas Undetectable AI labeled the video as AI-generated with 94% confidence.
The video didn’t put any disclaimer that it was generated utilizing AI instruments, deceptive social media customers.
There may be additionally no official announcement from the Worldwide Legal Courtroom (ICC) confirming that Duterte is about to be launched this July 2026. The previous president stays detained within the ICC facility in The Hague, Netherlands, awaiting the beginning of his full trial scheduled to start in November.
Dismantling ICC: The AI-generated video circulated after the US introduced its marketing campaign to dismantle the ICC, citing its alleged risk to American sovereignty.
In a press launch on July 13, the US State Division mentioned, “The marketing campaign will characteristic a whole-of-government response to systematically disable the ICC’s skill to function, goal American servicemen or officers, or in any other case threaten American sovereignty.”
A number of false posts claiming that Duterte’s launch has already been secured by US President Donald Trump additionally circulated on social media. Nonetheless, the US has no official assertion indicating that it’s set to save lots of Duterte from detention.
Duterte was arrested in March 2025 and is at present going through three counts of crimes towards humanity because of his alleged involvement within the killings underneath his battle on medicine and the Davao Loss of life Squad.
Earlier reality checks: Rappler has beforehand debunked related false claims about Duterte:
– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com
Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a scholar journalist based mostly in Naga Metropolis, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024.
Hold us conscious of suspicious Fb pages, teams, accounts, web sites, articles, or pictures in your community by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Allow us to battle disinformation one Reality Test at a time.
