On November 26, 2025, the Philippine political landscape was once again thrust into the international spotlight, as a swirl of controversy, misinformation, and legal maneuvering surrounded two of the country’s most prominent figures: Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and former President Rodrigo Duterte. The developments, which have captured the attention of both local and international observers, center on ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings related to the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs—a campaign that, according to human rights groups cited by Rappler, has resulted in more than 30,000 deaths.
The latest round of confusion began when Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed to have seen an ICC warrant for the arrest of Senator dela Rosa, who previously served as the chief of the Philippine National Police under Duterte. However, in a clarifying interview on ANC’s ‘Headstart,’ Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the ombudsman’s brother, stated that what was shown was merely a “signed digital copy,” not a verified or formally transmitted document. “From what I know, a digital copy was signed, was shown to the Ombudsman, but it was not a verified digital copy,” Jonvic Remulla told ANC. He added, “After which, none of it was transmitted formally to the Department of Justice or to the Center for Transnational Crimes. So, as far as the state security system is concerned, we are not yet in a position for a request for the arrest of Senator Dela Rosa.”
This distinction is more than bureaucratic nitpicking. The Philippines, as Jonvic Remulla reminded the public, withdrew from the ICC in 2018 under then-President Duterte’s orders, after the court began investigating alleged extrajudicial killings tied to the anti-drug campaign. This withdrawal has complicated the legal landscape, making it difficult for international warrants to be processed through standard government channels. “The Supreme Court has already clarified in the ruling of what constitutes a repatriation of what process must be done. And we will follow that process now since it has been clarified by the Supreme Court,” Remulla explained, signaling that any action on the supposed warrant would be handled with strict adherence to legal protocols.
While the government was busy clarifying its position on the alleged ICC warrant for dela Rosa, a parallel drama was unfolding online. A viral video began circulating on Facebook, racking up over 1.1 million views and tens of thousands of reactions. The clip purported to show former President Duterte celebrating his release from ICC detention alongside comedian-actress Giselle Sanchez. The video’s text and audio—"Secret success. Guess where he is now, Digong Duterte"—fueled rampant speculation and misinformation among Duterte supporters and critics alike.
But as Rappler reported in a thorough fact check published on November 26, 2025, the video was nothing more than a cleverly edited piece of disinformation. The footage of Duterte and Sanchez was originally filmed in March 2024, long before Duterte’s arrest, and had been previously posted on TikTok. The jubilant audio, meanwhile, was spliced from a 2023 24 Oras news report about the acquittal of Juanito Jose Remulla III, the son of then-justice secretary Boying Remulla, in a completely unrelated drug case. The voices of news anchor Vicky Morales and reporter Maki Pulido were lifted and stitched into the video to create the false impression of Duterte’s release.
In reality, Duterte remains firmly in ICC custody in The Hague, Netherlands, where he has been detained since March 11, 2025, facing charges of crimes against humanity for his role in the drug war. According to Rappler, Duterte’s legal team had requested interim release, but this was denied by the ICC’s pre-trial chamber on September 26, 2025. The former president’s camp has since appealed the ruling, and the ICC Appeals Chamber is scheduled to deliver its judgment on November 28, 2025—a date that many are watching closely.
The spread of the fake video underscores the ongoing challenges of misinformation in the Philippines, particularly on social media platforms where political passions run high and fact-checking often lags behind viral content. As Rappler pointed out, many Facebook users believed the video’s claims, with some expressing gratitude for Duterte’s supposed release and others taunting political opponents. This is far from the first time such tactics have been employed; previous fact checks by Rappler have debunked similar claims about Duterte’s detention status, the ICC’s jurisdiction, and even fabricated stories about his health and legal victories.
For those following the legal saga, the stakes are high. The ICC’s investigation into the Philippine drug war has drawn international scrutiny, with human rights organizations warning that the campaign amounted to a systematic assault on due process and basic rights. The government, for its part, has maintained that the campaign was necessary to combat the country’s drug problem and has bristled at what it sees as foreign interference. The withdrawal from the ICC in 2018 was, in many ways, a direct response to these tensions.
Yet, as the recent developments make clear, the country’s disengagement from the ICC has not insulated its leaders from international accountability—at least not entirely. The Supreme Court’s recent clarification on the process for repatriation and cooperation with international tribunals suggests that, while the path may be complex, it is not entirely closed. For Senator dela Rosa, the specter of an ICC warrant—verified or not—hangs over his political future, while Duterte’s fate now rests with the ICC Appeals Chamber.
Meanwhile, the Filipino public is left to sift through a dizzying array of claims, counterclaims, and outright fabrications. The role of independent media and fact-checkers like Rappler has never been more critical, as they work to separate truth from fiction in an environment where rumors can take on a life of their own. As Rappler urged in its latest fact check, “Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.”
The coming days promise more twists and turns, especially as the ICC prepares to rule on Duterte’s appeal for interim release. For now, both the government and the public remain in a state of anxious anticipation, watching as the country’s recent past collides with the demands of international justice and the relentless churn of the social media rumor mill.
As the legal and political drama continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the search for accountability—and the battle against misinformation—are far from over in the Philippines.
