FACT CHECK: Photo of barong-clad Duterte inside a jail cell is fake

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Similar photos supposedly showing a thin, frail Duterte in The Hague have been debunked, and the International Criminal Court has not released any recent photos of Duterte

Claim: A photo circulating on social media shows former president Rodrigo Duterte in a jail cell wearing a barong. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The image was shared by a Facebook page named “Veronica Duterte update,” which has 97,000 followers. The post, which has 143 reactions as of writing, included a collage of photos: one seemingly showing Duterte looking frail while staring at a map of the Philippines, and others depicting him behind bars, lying in bed, and wearing a barong.

The post’s caption offers critical commentary on the current state of the Philippine government and economy, alleging that the Duterte family is being targeted as part of a broader political scheme to impeach the Vice President. It also claims that Duterte is quietly suffering in another country while the political sabotage is ongoing.  

The facts: The photos are fake. According to results from the AI photo detection tool Undetectable.ai, the collage is likely generated using AI, with only 25% of the content being genuine. Hive Moderation showed that the photo is 79.8% likely to be AI-generated. 

No official photos have been released by the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding detainees. In March, Duterte was arrested and held in ICC custody over charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s drug war.

Additionally, the viral image contains a link that redirects users to an e-commerce site, posing potential phishing risks. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)

Altered photos: Various altered images circulating online have portrayed the former president as gravely ill, prompting concern and messages of support from his followers. In an interview, Duterte’s ex-wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, described the former president as “skin and bones.” A report from GMA News cited Vice President Sara Duterte echoing this description of her father following her recent visit to The Hague. 

However, the Vice President has also publicly debunked one widely shared image showing Duterte in a hospital bed, clarifying that it was edited. She also said that while the former president had lost weight, he is not seriously ill or hospitalized while under detention. 

The most recent official update on Duterte’s condition was in March 2025, revealing that he was unable to attend his pre-trial hearing in person due to health issues. Doctors at the ICC detention center evaluated him upon arrival and found him mentally sound and fit, but physically unfit to appear at the hearing. He is set to have a confirmation of charges hearing on September 23. 

Duterte in the ICC: Rappler has fact-checked multiple AI-related claims about Duterte and his situation in the ICC, specifically about his health:

• FACT CHECK: Photo of Duterte in a wheelchair is fake
• FACT CHECK: ‘Skin and bones’ photo of Duterte used in Facebook reel is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Photo of bedridden Duterte is fake, digitally altered

 – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com 

Efren Cyril Bocar is a journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar who graduated in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. Cyril is also a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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