FACT CHECK: 2025 photo of Duterte in Hong Kong used to falsely claim he’s back in PH
Claim: Former president Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in the Philippines following his release from International Criminal Court (ICC) detention.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The post bearing the claim has already received 1,600 reactions, 525 comments, and 117 shares as of writing.
It shows a composite photo of Duterte, his partner Honeylet Avanceña, and his children Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte. The image also shows other public officials including Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former House speaker Martin Romualdez, and former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson.
The text on the photo says, “Good news mga ka-DDS. Tatay Digong nasa airport na, sinalubong ng mga Dabawenyos si former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte napakagandang balita nito guys sa mga DDS at higit sa lahat sa kanyang pamilya.”
(Good news, fellow DDS, Tatay Digong is already at the airport, welcomed by Davaoeños. This is wonderful news, guys, for the DDS and for his entire family.)
Several Facebook users believed the claim, with some expressing relief and gratitude at the former president’s supposed return.
The facts: Duterte is not back in the Philippines. He remains detained at the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands.
Duterte has not arrived in any Philippine airport and he has not been released. The photos used in the false post were taken during the “Pasasalamat kay PRRD with OFWS” thanksgiving event in Hong Kong in March 2025.
The first photo was originally posted on Facebook by PDP Laban on March 10, 2025. Other photos show Duterte waving at a crowd of supporters, particularly overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong.
The other photo was taken during Duterte’s arrest on March 11, 2025, following his arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong. Duterte can be seen wearing a blue striped shirt under a black jacket.
ICC case: The case against Duterte at the ICC is ongoing with a full trial scheduled on November 30. The ICC pre-trial chamber confirmed all the charges against Duterte in April 2026, including three counts of crimes against humanity over his administration’s war on drugs.
In the lead-up to the decision confirming the charges against the former president, his defense counsel filed several requests for his interim release. However, the ICC rejected all appeals, saying that all three risk factors — including danger to flee, to obstruct justice by intimidating witnesses, and to recommit the same alleged crimes — were present in Duterte’s case.
Previous fact-checks: Rappler has previously fact-checked similar false claims about Duterte’s detention:
- FACT CHECK: Duterte remains detained; VP Sara not at ICC to ‘pick up’ her father
- FACT CHECK: Video saying Duterte will be released in July 2026 is fake, AI-generated
- FACT CHECK: Duterte not set to be released amid US push to dismantle ICC
- FACT CHECK: No Trump plan to secure Duterte’s release from ICC
- FACT CHECK: Video of ICC judge saying Duterte should not be imprisoned is AI-generated
- FACT CHECK: ICC did not say evidence vs Duterte is insufficient
- FACT CHECK: Duterte not back in PH; video misuses 2025 news report of his arrest
– 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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