FACT CHECK: Viral posts name fictional characters as Duterte’s ‘new’ ICC lawyers

Claim: Harvard Law School professor and international law expert Annalise Keating, along with New York-based lawyers Jessica Pearson, Harvey Specter, and Mike Ross, will represent former president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC) as his new defense counsel.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A post bearing the claim was made on May 9 in the Facebook group, “House of Representa-thieves: Butasang Pambulsa,” which has since garnered over 29,600 reactions, 230 comments, and 1,700 shares. 

The post claims that Keating will replace Nicholas Kaufman, who withdrew as Duterte’s lead defense counsel in the latter’s crimes against humanity case.

Another post, which claims that Specter and Ross have been designated by the ICC as Duterte’s lawyers, was shared in the Facebook group “Sara Duterte Supporters” on May 9. It has garnered over 2,900 reactions and 160 shares as of writing.

Back in March, a similar post circulated claiming that Specter, Ross, Pearson, and paralegal Rachel Zane would serve as Duterte’s defense team. This post has accumulated over 2,900 reactions, 90 comments, and 520 shares.

The “House of Representa-thieves: Butasang Pambulsa” Facebook group has over 148,000 members, while the “Sara Duterte Supporters” group has over 312,400 members.

The facts: Keating, Specter, Ross, Pearson, and Zane are all fictional characters from popular legal drama series.

Keating is the protagonist of the series How to Get Away with Murder, which aired for six seasons from 2014 to 2020. In the show, Keating is a criminal law professor at the fictional Middleton University, where she famously teaches “Criminal Law 100.” The character was portrayed by Viola Davis, who made history as the first Black woman to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for this role.

Specter, Ross, Pearson, and Zane are characters from the legal drama Suits, which aired for nine seasons between 2011 and 2019. The series is set within a high-stakes New York City-based law firm. The roles were portrayed by Gabriel Macht (Specter), Patrick Adams (Ross), Gina Torres (Pearson), and Meghan Markle (Zane).

Duterte’s ICC counsel: On May 8, Kaufman, who represented Duterte following his arrest on March 11, 2025, and subsequent transfer to the ICC, filed a request for his removal as Duterte’s lead legal counsel. Kaufman’s withdrawal request indicated that his contract with Duterte was for a one-year term that concluded on March 31, 2026.

Kaufman shared that Duterte expressed a desire “to hire replacement counsel” during the defense team’s visit on May 7.

Dov Jacobs, Duterte’s associate counsel, also filed a request to be relieved of his duties alongside Kaufman.

On Monday, May 11, the ICC Trial Chamber III officially granted Kaufman’s request, while Jacobs’ request to withdraw was earlier approved on May 8.

Kaufman said he has spoken to his replacement, who was not identified in the redacted version of his request, and said the new counsel is prepared to represent the former president during the case’s status conference on May 27.

“I am convinced that the continuity and efficacy of Mr. Duterte’s representation will remain assured through [the replacement lawyer], who has a wealth of experience at the International Criminal Court, and the existing defense team,” Kaufman said.

On April 23, an ICC pre-trial chamber confirmed all the charges against Duterte, sending his case to a full trial.

Debunked: Rappler has previously debunked similar claims regarding Duterte’s ICC case and defense counsel, especially those involving fictional characters:

• FACT CHECK: Quote card on Duterte arrest cites fictional lawyer Harvey Specter
• FACT CHECK: Fake quote cards expressing support for Duterte cite fictional characters
• FACT CHECK: Quote card on Duterte arrest cites fictional lawyer Elle Woods

– Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com 

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