FACT CHECK: Contrary to claim, media reported on pro-Duterte rallies in The Hague

Claim: Media outlets PTV, GMA, ABS-CBN, and TV5 did not report rallies staged by supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found on a March 24 post on the Facebook page “Jay sonza” by the former broadcaster with the same name. 

The post states: “PTV, GMA, ABS-CBN, TV5 nagpadala pa kayo ng news team, hindi nyo naman pinapalabas ang rally ng mga Pilipino sa The Hague, atbp.” 

(PTV, GMA, ABS-CBN, TV5, you even sent a news team, but you do not show the rallies of Filipinos in The Hague, etc.)

As of writing, the post already has around 5,000 reactions, 797 comments, and 663 shares. It was posted following Duterte’s arrest on March 11. The former president faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s brutal war on drugs. (READ: ICC warrant: Rodrigo Duterte used DDS, law enforcers to kill ‘criminals’) 

The facts: Contrary to the claim, there is television coverage of pro-Duterte rallies in The Hague and various other places:

• A March 13 Shorts upload on the GMA Integrated News YouTube channel and a March 13 video upload on the ABS-CBN News YouTube channel both show a gathering of Duterte supporters outside the Hague Penitentiary Institution where Duterte is detained.
  
• A March 15 video upload on the PTV YouTube channel reported Duterte’s first appearance before the ICC on March 14. Starting at 0:34, the news report mentioned that two groups held rallies just outside the ICC: a group of Duterte supporters and another group supporting the victims of extrajudicial killings.
  
• A March 24 video upload on TV5’s News5 Everywhere YouTube channel reported on Filipinos gathering in The Hague to show their support for Duterte.
  
• A March 18 video upload on the ABS-CBN News YouTube channel shows gatherings of Duterte supporters in various places in the Philippines. 

Meanwhile, human rights groups have also staged demonstrations clamoring for Duterte’s prosecution. (READ: Human rights defenders rally in Berlin, demand justice for Duterte’s drug war victims)

Recent updates on Duterte and the ICC: Following Duterte’s first appearance at the ICC on March 14, the hearing for the confirmation of charges against Duterte has been set for September 23. 

The ICC prosecution team has until April 4 to provide the pre-trial chamber information about the evidence it plans to present during the September 23 hearing. Meanwhile, Duterte’s defense has until April 11 to state what it intends to do at the same hearing. (READ: What to expect in the 6 months before Duterte’s ICC pre-trial)

Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has previously fact-checked false claims from Sonza several times. Before this fact-check, the latest false claim from Sonza was a post misrepresenting the number of killings mentioned in the ICC’s documents on the charges against Duterte. 

Since Duterte’s arrest, numerous false claims targeting the ICC and institutions such as the Supreme Court have circulated online. (READ: [DECODED] YouTubers posting lies, propaganda on Duterte-ICC issue can earn up to P20,000 daily ) – Percival Bueser/ Rappler.com 

Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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