Former President Rodrigo Duterte, February 13, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — Malacañang on Friday urged Filipinos to fact check what it called "fake news" surrounding the events during and after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte over an International Criminal Court (ICC) case. 

Duterte case seen as a 'gift' for embattled ICC

"Kahapon nagsagawa kami ng live discussion sa mga kinauukulan. Ang dami po kasing kumakalat... Pinatotohanan lang po natin ano yung nangyayari. Hindi po kasi totoo yung mga lumalabas," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told Teleradyo Serbisyo on Friday. 

It has been 3 days since Philippine authorities arrested and surrendered Duterte to the Interpol, which was executing an arrest warrant issued by the ICC investigating possible crimes against humanity over his drug war.

Duterte is now under the custody of the ICC and is held at its detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands.

Philippines to ensure Duterte gets fair trial at ICC: Palace

Casto said since the arrest, countless fake news circulated on social media and most of them supposedly come from the camp and supporters of Duterte.

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"Siguro ito nga po yung kanilang strategy para kaawaan ang dating pangulo Duterte," she said. 

She called out the Duterte camp for allegedly falsely announcing that the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order to prevent Duterte's arrest on Tuesday.

"Katulad ng paglabas umano ng TRO na in-issue daw ng Supreme Court, sa kanila din po galing, nasunog po ata sila dito, nag-livestream pa nung sinabing may TRO na," Castro said.

Duterte fails to get immediate Supreme Court reprieve after arrest

"So sila mismo, sa hanay nila, mukang nakukuryente ng mga fake news," she added.

She said the fake news was meant to sow chaos and confusion among his supporters. 

"Kasi nagkakaroon po ng kaguluhan sa damdamin at utak ng taumbayan," she said. 

The Palace official said Filipinos should verify the reports from credible outlets to avoid being a victim of "budol."

"Sana magmasid din po ang taumbayan, magmasid kung ano ang katotohanan at kung di naman credible yung taong nagsasabi nito, mag-relax lang sila," Castro said.

"Sana imulat ng taumbayan ang kanilang isip, wag po silang pabudol, wag po silang paloko sa mga napapanood lang nila sa social media," she added.

Rodrigo Duterte to appear before ICC on March 14

Duterte is set to appear before the ICC for the first time on Thursday night, Manila time. 

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