Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, notorious for his controversial war on drugs, was arrested on March 11, 2025, in Manila and subsequently flown to The Hague. He faces grave charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where a press release dated March 12 disclosed that the court found reasonable grounds to hold him responsible for murder, allegedly committed between November 2011 and March 2019. This involves a systematic attack targeting civilians alongside state policies that resulted in thousands of deaths.
The ICC judges concluded that Duterte’s actions, both as the head of the Davao Death Squad and as President of the Philippines, constituted an attack directed against a civilian population. The alleged atrocities occurred during a multi-year span, during his drug war campaigns, whereby over 6,000 suspects met their fate without due process.
Donald Trump, who expressed admiration for Duterte in 2017, called him during his presidential term to commend his efforts on the drug crisis, saying, “I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem. Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that.” This previously cordial relationship has not translated into any supportive actions following Duterte’s recent extradition.
On March 13, 2025, social media platforms buzzed with false claims alleging that Trump signed an executive order demanding Duterte’s immediate release from ICC custody. Posts circulated that purported the existence of an “Executive Order 2025-03: Restoration of Justice for Allied Leaders,” asserting that it would mandate U.S. forces to extract Duterte from The Hague within 48 hours, with threats of sanctions against the Netherlands if they did not comply.
Moreover, one particularly misleading post suggested that a specialized unit of U.S. Navy SEALs would be deployed for this task. However, these claims have been thoroughly debunked. There are no verified reports indicating that any such executive order has been issued, nor is there any evidence of Trump taking a public stance in support of Duterte's release.
Fact-checking efforts led by sources like Vera Files have refuted these misleading social media claims, affirming that no official stance was taken by Trump or any U.S. government agency regarding Duterte’s arrest. Such rampant misinformation could harm the public understanding of current events.
In summary, Duterte’s arrest and the subsequent misinformation surrounding the event reveal alarming tendencies in how narratives are shaped and distorted in the realm of politics. While the ICC moves to hold leaders accountable for actions taken during their tenure, the response from influential figures like Trump remains ambiguous, allowing for a space where misinformation can thrive unchecked.
