Former Philippine President Duterte Arrested and Extradited to the ICC: A Deep Dive into the Disinformation Blitz
On March 11, 2025, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to face charges related to his controversial "war on drugs." The ICC warrant accuses Duterte of being criminally responsible for the deaths of at least 43 individuals between 2011 and 2019. Duterte’s arrest marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing investigation into the alleged human rights abuses committed during his presidency. His administration’s brutal crackdown on drug-related crimes resulted in the deaths of thousands, drawing widespread international condemnation.
Duterte’s "war on drugs," launched shortly after his inauguration in June 2016, was characterized by his disregard for human rights and due process. His rhetoric, often inflammatory and dismissive of international legal norms, created a climate of fear and impunity. He publicly declared his indifference to human rights concerns, famously stating, "I don’t care about human rights, believe me." He justified his actions by claiming the Philippines faced a severe drug crisis, estimating 3.7 million "drug addicts" and vowing to "slaughter these idiots for destroying my country.”
Duterte’s preemptive withdrawal of the Philippines from the ICC in March 2019 underscored his resistance to international scrutiny. By the end of his term in 2022, human rights groups and the ICC prosecutor estimated the death toll from the "war on drugs" to be as high as 30,000, a stark contrast to official government figures. The ICC’s investigation, launched in 2021, culminated in Duterte’s arrest and extradition, setting the stage for a legal battle that will likely have significant ramifications for international human rights law and the Philippines’ domestic political landscape.
In the immediate aftermath of Duterte’s arrest, a coordinated disinformation campaign emerged online, attempting to portray the event as a politically motivated "kidnapping." Philstar reporter Cristina Chi, specializing in disinformation and influence operations, uncovered a network of over 200 Facebook accounts and pages spreading identical messages framing the arrest as an "illegal detention." This rapid dissemination of copy-pasted content, a tactic known as "copypasta," revealed a deliberate attempt to manipulate public perception and undermine the legitimacy of the ICC’s actions.
Chi’s investigation highlighted the sophisticated nature of the disinformation operation, utilizing seemingly authentic accounts to spread false narratives. This blend of real and fake profiles, coupled with inflammatory rhetoric, made it challenging to discern genuine concern from coordinated manipulation. The campaign sought to discredit the ICC and portray Duterte as a victim of political persecution, resonating with his loyal base of supporters and fostering distrust in international institutions. The disinformation campaign leveraged Duterte’s existing popularity and the pre-existing narratives surrounding his strongman persona to cast doubt on the legitimacy of his arrest.
This incident underscores the growing threat of disinformation and the ease with which it can be weaponized to manipulate public opinion, especially in politically polarized environments. The use of copypasta, combined with the involvement of seemingly genuine accounts, demonstrates the evolving tactics employed by disinformation networks. The campaign’s rapid spread and its potential to influence public opinion further emphasize the urgent need for effective media literacy and critical thinking skills to counter such manipulative tactics. Chi’s meticulous research, conducted without the aid of sophisticated tools, serves as a valuable case study for journalists investigating disinformation campaigns and highlights the importance of manual data collection and analysis in uncovering coordinated online manipulation. Her work sheds light on the vulnerability of democratic processes to online disinformation and reinforces the need for continued vigilance and robust fact-checking mechanisms.