FACT CHECK: Post falsely claims ICC junked Duterte case over ‘fabricated’ evidence

The ICC confirmed all charges in April, with the trial set to begin on November 30 ICC judges did not dismiss the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte; instead, it is moving toward trial. The false claim mentioned alleged fabricated evidence from former senator Antonio Trillanes IV; there is no basis to this assertion. Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs, and if convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. Claim: Three International Criminal Court (ICC) judges dismissed the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte due to fabricated evidence by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Rating: FALSE Why we fact-checked this: A video posted on October 30 by the Facebook page Noel Weng Acido carries a thumbnail with partly obscured text that appears to read, “ICC case dismissed” and “Ebidensya ni (evidence of) Trillanes.” The caption claims, “Hindi yan fake news, tatlong ICC judges pina-dismiss ang kaso ni PRRD dahil ebidensya ni [Trillanes] ay gawa-gawa lang, laya na si PRRD.” (That’s not fake news, three ICC judges dismissed [former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte]’s case because Trillanes’ evidence was fabricated. PRRD is free now.) The narration repeats the claim: “Breaking news, 3 judges sa ICC pina-dismiss ang kaso ni PRRD dahil ‘yong mga ebidensya ay gawa-gawa lang ni Trillanes.” (Breaking news, three ICC judges dismissed PRRD’s case because the evidence was fabricated by Trillanes.) As of writing, the video had 182,000 views, 2,700 reactions, 197 comments, and 419 shares. The facts: There is no ICC ruling, statement, or credible report saying the case has been dismissed. In fact, it has moved to trial. Two groups of three ICC judges have handled the former president’s case, and neither has dismissed it. The first, Pre-Trial Chamber I, heard oral submissions by the prosecution and defense in February and confirmed all charges in April. The pre-trial chamber was composed of judges Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, and María del Socorro Flores Liera. The case is now assigned to Trial Chamber III, which will begin proceedings on November 30. The chamber is composed of judges Joanna Korner from the UK, Keebong Paek from South Korea, and Nicolas Guillou from France. None served on the first panel, as ICC rules require. On October 8, judges also ruled that Duterte was fit to stand trial. ​​Duterte is facing three counts of crimes against humanity due to his alleged involvement in the killings under his war on drugs and the Davao Death Squad. Trillanes’ role: Trillanes, a fierce critic of the former president, has played an active role in the drug war case. In June 2017, he and then-Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano filed a 45-page submission asking the ICC to investigate Duterte’s drug war. It followed an earlier complaint filed by lawyer Jude Sabio accusing Duterte of mass murder in the Philippines. The submission cited accounts from self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, retired police officer Arturo Lascañas, and a police officer identified as PO1 Tacorda, in which they described planned killings linked to police operations. (READ: What neutralization means in Duterte’s drug war, according to sources) During the confirmation of charges hearing in February 2026, prosecutors presented witness statements, documents, and Duterte’s own public remarks that they said showed the alleged policy of widespread killings under the former strongman. In confirming the charges against Duterte, the ICC judges said there were “substantial grounds” to believe that Duterte was criminally responsible for the crimes charged. Contrary to the claim, there were no mentions of any supposed fabrication of evidence allegedly by Trillanes or anyone else. In February, Trillanes was accused of receiving bribes to facilitate the ICC investigation into the Duterte drug war. The former lawmaker denied the claim, saying it was an attempt to discredit the tribunal’s proceedings. Road to trial: Duterte has been in ICC custody since March 2025. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to 30 years or life imprisonment. His case could last several years, with ICC-accredited assistant to counsel Kristina Conti earlier saying previous trials have lasted around three years, with some taking as long as a decade. (READ: Where are we now in Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC case?) – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com Efren Cyril Bocar is a journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar who graduated with a degree in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. Cyril is also a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time. How does this make you feel? Loading