Duterte Remains Detained at ICC; VP Sara Denies Father's Release Rumors

A viral social media claim that former President Rodrigo Duterte has been released and is being picked up by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has been rated FALSE by Rappler. The claim, accompanied by a video showing a private plane, had garnered over 200,000 views as of July 27. The video's text read, “Finally, the moment everyone has been waiting for is almost here! Inday has actually come to pick [her father] up, accompanied by a bodyguard. Yes, is everyone excited?” Some Facebook users expressed belief in the false claim in the comments section. However, Rappler's fact-check confirms that there are no official announcements regarding Duterte's release or his alleged return to the Philippines. He remains detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) facility in The Hague, Netherlands. A reverse image search also did not yield any credible video or photos from government sources or the ICC to support the claim. Vice President Sara Duterte herself has denied the false claims that her father is set to be released soon. In a statement on July 28, she said, “I did not say in my speech that [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] would be released next week. I don’t know where that idea originated, but the transcript definitely does not show me saying that PRRD would be released from the ICC or that he would be released next week.” Rappler has previously fact-checked similar false claims circulating on social media about private planes supposedly used to ferry Duterte back home, noting that these posts lack credible sources. Duterte was arrested in March 2025 and has since been detained in The Hague. He faces three counts of crimes against humanity for his alleged role in killings under his administration's war on drugs and the Davao Death Squad. Following failed requests for interim release and rescheduled pre-trial hearings, the full trial for Duterte's case is set to begin on November 30, 2026. Information Source: Rappler Philippines