FALSE. Facebook posts claim that former president Rodrigo Duterte died on May 17, 2026, while under detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
FACT. Duterte is alive and remains under ICC custody. The ICC confirmed that he is scheduled to appear before Courtroom I on May 27, 2026, for a status conference related to his crimes against humanity charges.
Several Facebook posts spread the false claim alongside AI-generated images depicting Duterte lying in a coffin or appearing weak and frail.
The posts circulated widely in pro-Duterte Facebook groups, including “SARA DUTERTE SUPPORTERS,” and received hundreds of reactions, comments, and shares.
Analysis of the circulating images indicates that they were generated using artificial intelligence. Hive Moderation’s AI detection tool found that the photos were highly likely created using Google Gemini AI software.
The false reports may have stemmed from news about Félicien Kabuga, an ICC detainee linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide case, who died on May 16, 2026.
Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, over alleged crimes against humanity connected to extrajudicial killings during his administration’s war on drugs. He has remained in ICC detention since March 12, 2025.
Despite multiple petitions seeking interim release due to his age and health condition, the ICC pre-trial chamber ruled that Duterte is fit to stand trial and confirmed the charges against him on April 23, 2026.
