Ex-president Duterte is alive, in ICC custody

A video falsely claims the previous president has died. Duterte is at present detained in The Hague, Netherlands, the place he awaits his affirmation of fees listening to.

Declare: Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has died, in line with his longtime ally, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. 

Score: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The declare was made in a Fb video uploaded on September 13, which has reached over 1.7 million views, 7,800 reactions, 2,900 feedback, and 872 shares as of writing. The video was shared throughout varied Fb teams, and several other customers who commented and shared the publish believed that Duterte was already lifeless.

Within the video, a newscaster stated, “Patay na si courting pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ayon po ‘yan kay Senador Christopher ‘Bong’ Go.” 

(Former president Rodrigo Duterte has died, in line with Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go.)

Fb consumer “Alexajean Alexa” additionally shared a video similar to an earlier add from the Fb web page “Byaheng Filipinos.” The latter video, uploaded a day prior, additionally gained widespread attain with over 1.4 million views, 2,200 reactions, 2,100 feedback, and 610 shares. 

Each uploads have sparked heated exchanges within the feedback, with many customers believing the declare.

The info: Duterte is alive, and no official stories verify the declare. The previous president is at present held on the Worldwide Felony Court docket (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, the place he has been detained since March over crimes towards humanity fees associated to the drug battle killings underneath his presidency.

Duterte’s lead protection lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, filed a movement on August 18 to indefinitely postpone all authorized proceedings, claiming that Duterte is “unfit to face trial,” however didn’t declare that Duterte is in crucial situation.

Opposite to the declare within the video, Go and different allies of Duterte haven’t issued any official statements relating to his supposed demise on their social media pages or via different official channels.

Deteriorating well being: Based mostly on the medical stories of the protection’s personal specialists, the previous president allegedly has a “deteriorating cognitive situation” that impacts his skill to recall occasions. 

“Ever since his precipitous and traumatic rendition, the Defence has been battling the previous President’s progressively deteriorating medical state of affairs which has affected his skill to assimilate the proof and to offer his legal professionals correct directions,” Kaufman stated in an announcement on September 9.

Nevertheless, Kristina Conti, a lawyer for the victims, stated that the conclusion of the protection’s personal skilled was “not impartial.” She additionally famous earlier statements by Duterte’s youngsters assuring the general public that there was no motive to fret about their father’s well being.

Earlier in August, throughout a go to to her father, Vice President Sara Duterte stated the previous president was blissful to see all 4 of his youngsters for the primary time since his detention on the ICC. The Vice President additionally stated that her father’s situation is “okay,” apart from a excessive blood sugar stage. 

ICC detention: Resulting from Duterte’s well being situation and his protection counsel’s attraction to the ICC, the affirmation of fees listening to, initially set for September 23, was postponed. The pre-trial chamber has not introduced a brand new date.

Duterte’s authorized group had additionally beforehand requested the short-term launch of the previous president. He’s exploring the choice of being quickly freed within the Netherlands.

Debunked: Rappler has beforehand debunked a number of false claims about Duterte’s demise and detention on the ICC: 

– Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com 

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