[DECODED] 3 playbook techniques that persist a 12 months after Duterte’s arrest

That is AI generated summarization, which can have errors. For context, at all times consult with the complete article.

As we await the pre-trial chamber’s choice on whether or not Duterte’s case will proceed to a full trial, recognizing these patterns turns into all of the extra essential in navigating at the moment’s data panorama extra critically

For individuals who have been following Decoded for some time now, chances are you’ll bear in mind a bit we wrote about how, in March 2025, on-line supporters made a sufferer of Duterte after his ICC arrest over crimes in opposition to humanity.

Precisely a 12 months has handed since the arrest. Right here’s what has occurred thus far:

Pre-trial proceedings have been supposed to start out in September 2025, however Duterte’s camp had managed to postpone the proceedings by claiming that he was “not match to face trial.”
Duterte’s protection group then filed an enchantment primarily based on jurisdiction, which the ICC denied in October 2025.
Duterte misplaced his enchantment for an interim launch in November 2025, declaring him match for pre-trial.
The pre-trial hearings lastly happened in February, however Duterte requested to not attend the proceedings, saying he’s “previous, drained, and frail.”

As I used to be listening to Duterte’s lead protection counsel Nicholas Kaufman current his arguments in the course of the pre-trial hearings, I couldn’t assist however assume that I had heard a lot of them earlier than — however on-line.

For one, Kaufman claimed that Duterte’s statements about his kill orders have been taken out of context, primarily by the media, and that the previous president had by no means killed anybody. This, regardless of data displaying that Duterte himself had publicly admitted to it.

Kaufman framed Duterte as a popularly elected chief whose insurance policies and actions have been rooted in serving the Filipino folks, suggesting that his selections, significantly these associated to the drug warfare, have been aimed on the public good.

These have been speaking factors that our group at The Nerve is so used to seeing each time we analyze large datasets of on-line conversations defending Duterte, his household, and his perceived legacy.

Within the days that adopted the pre-trial hearings, we’ve once more seen how these techniques have been being utilized to new narratives. Listed here are three examples of how they unfolded on-line:

Exploitation of feelings

Simply as Kaufman tried to play to feelings by framing Duterte as a weak man being unjustly detained, our group noticed how Fb posts exploited the latest loss of life of a younger woman in Cebu to defend Duterte’s drug warfare.

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The information sparked outrage, particularly as a result of the sufferer was a minor. Our researcher, Christa Escudero, discovered that it didn’t take lengthy earlier than coordinated Fb posts surfaced, expressing worry over the crime. By no means thoughts that accusations of the suspect being a drug addict have been nonetheless unconfirmed — the narrative was shortly framed to bolster pro-drug-war speaking factors. Christa wrote all about it right here.

Shifting blame towards human rights advocates and establishments

When Kaufman blamed the media for Duterte’s destiny within the ICC, he additionally fired photographs at educational establishments and portrayed them as a part of a broader community shaping narratives and authorized actions surrounding his consumer.

Screenshots of feedback discovered within the posts concerning the loss of life of a younger woman in Cebu

This tactic can once more be seen within the feedback part of the posts that used the Cebu woman’s homicide to defend the drug warfare, which ranged from blaming human rights advocates for the supposed coddling of drug customers to accusing Duterte’s critics of selective outrage, saying they communicate out on points involving the previous president however stay silent when different crimes happen. It’s a traditional instance of whataboutism.

Attacking EJK victims’ households to discredit their plight

False narratives undermining the households of EJK victims additionally resurfaced on-line. There have been posts that solid doubt on their motives and credibility and insinuated that family members have been being funded or politically used. This shifts consideration away from their testimonies and the substance of their claims.

Screenshots of posts attacking victims’ households. The left-most submit reveals an altered picture, making it seem that family members have been holding designer baggage.

The proliferation of those narratives reveals the Duterte household’s enduring affect on-line, nonetheless being strengthened and rewarded by the social media platforms through which falsehoods and deceptive claims thrive.