FACT CHECK: Duterte not released, post uses old video with actress Giselle Sanchez

Claim: A video shows former president Rodrigo Duterte with comedian-actress Giselle Sanchez following his release from International Criminal Court (ICC) detention.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video, posted on Facebook on November 14, has already received 1.1 million views, 56,300 reactions, 3,800 shares, and 2,600 comments as of writing. 

In the first part of the video, a reporter’s voice can be heard saying, “Laya na, ito’y matapos siyang ma-acquit (He is free after being acquitted).” It then cuts to Sanchez, a long-time Duterte supporter, making a celebratory chant beside the former president.

Text on the video says, “Sekretong (sic) tagumpay. Hulaan nyo kung saan siya ngayon, Digong Duterte (Secret success. Guess where he is now, Digong Duterte).” 

The post’s caption reads, “Tagumpay na hindi nalalaman sa mga kalaban…iyak ang mga bangag dito (A victory unknown to the enemies…the fools are crying [over this news]).”

Many Facebook users in the comment section believed the claim, with one commenter expressing gratitude for Duterte’s supposed release.

The facts: Duterte has not been released. He remains detained in The Hague, Netherlands, for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s war on drugs. 

The misleading Facebook post misuses an old video clip with spliced audio from an unrelated news report. 

The video of Duterte and Sanchez was originally taken in March 2024, before the former president was arrested and detained under ICC custody. It was also posted on TikTok on April 22, 2024. The official Facebook page of Sanchez posted the same video this year, with a watermark from the TikTok account.

Meanwhile, the audio used in the video was spliced and originally came from a 24 Oras news report in 2023 about the acquittal of Juanito Jose Remulla III, son of then-justice secretary Boying Remulla, on his illegal drug possession case. 

GMA news anchor Vicky Morales can be heard saying, “Laya na… (Has been freed).” From 00:39 to 00:40, the voice of GMA news reporter Maki Pulido was also used, saying “Ito’y matapos siyang ma-acquit (This was after he was acquitted).” 

Altogether, the video and audio clips were used to falsely insinuate that Duterte has been released.

Duterte detention: Duterte has asked the ICC to grant him interim release, a request the pre-trial chamber has denied.

The Duterte camp has appealed the ruling. On November 28, the ICC Appeals Chamber is set to deliver its judgment on the former president’s interim release appeal.

Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, to face charges of crimes against humanity. Human rights groups have recorded more than 30,000 killings under Duterte’s war on drugs.

Previous fact checks: Rappler has previously debunked similar claims about Duterte’s interim release:

• FACT CHECK: Duterte not found unconscious in ICC detention center 
• FACT CHECK: 2023 ICC ruling misrepresented as dismissal of Duterte’s drug war case 
• FACT CHECK: ICC has jurisdiction over PH drug war cases 
• FACT CHECK: Duterte still detained, video misrepresents PH position on interim release
• FACT CHECK: 2024 SC ruling misrepresented as dismissal of Duterte’s ICC case
• FACT CHECK: Duterte still detained, not granted interim release
• FACT CHECK: Duterte ‘homecoming’ video misuses old clip by daughter Kitty

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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