Fake news spread after ex-Pres. Duterte’s arrest 

Fake news and disinformation proliferated on social media as satirical posts and fake quote cards tricked several individuals following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court. 

The online posts, which caught the laughter of many, quoted fictional characters from popular legal dramas. 

One post quoted Annalise Keating, who was portrayed by Viola Davis in the American series “How to Get Away with Murder.” 

The post quoted the TV character saying: “The ICC just made a grave mistake. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, meaning this arrest is illegal - a blatant violation of Philippines’ sovereignty and the rule of law. This isn't justice; it’s political persecution.” 

“Free Duterte now - or face the consequences,” the post added. 

A satirical post also went viral after it quoted Gabriel Macht, who played Harvey Specter in “Suits.” The post even used the logo of broadcasting network CNN to make it appear that it was an interview. 

“You can’t arrest a former head of state based on politics. That’s not justice - that's a circus. And I don’t do circuses,” the quote read. 

Another satire post made rounds online as it quoted this time Elle Woods, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, in the hit 2001 film “Legally Blonde.” 

In the post, the film character was quoted: “The ICC just made a grave mistake. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, meaning this arrest is illegal- a blatant violation of Philippines’ sovereignty and the rule of law. This isn’t justice; it’s political persecution.” 

According to UNESCO, misinformation refers to any information “that is false but not created with the intention of causing harm.” Disinformation. Meanwhile, disinformation is defined as information that is false and deliberately created to harm a person, social group, organization, or country

UNESCO said that there are seven types of misinformation and disinformation (mis/disinformation) that could be harmful even to children. One of which is satire or parody - which has no intention to cause harm but has the potential to fool. Another type of mis/disinformation is fake context or when genuine content is shared with false contextual information. 

Duterte supporters spam ICC judge online 

Meanwhile, International Criminal Court Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti called out Duterte’s supporters for spamming ICC Pre-Trial Chamber-I Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc online as they called for his release. 

Conti said that the actions from the supporters would not help Duterte’s case in the ICC. 

“Pinalakas nyo ang rason para [hawakan] ng ICC ang kaso imbes na ipaubaya sa domestic judicial system, dahil mas magiging patas, mapayapa, at mahinahon kung sa ibang bansa gagawin ang mga pagdinig,” she said in a Facebook post on Sunday. 

(You have strengthened the reason for the ICC to handle the case instead of leaving it to the local judicial system, because it would be more fair, peaceful, and calm if the hearings were held abroad.) 

Conti also noted that the supporters’ behavior will be deemed as a threat to the safety of drug war victims, to which Duterte is being implicated. 

“Hindi payagan ang interim release ni Rodrigo Duterte dahil banta sya at ang mga supporter nya sa kaligtasan ng mga biktima at abogado na tumitindig laban sa kanya,” she said. “Katakot-takot na bullying at pagbabanta ang natatanggap ngayon ng mga nanay na naglakas loob humarap sa publiko.

(They will not allow the interim release of Rodrigo Duterte because he and his supporters are threats to the victims and lawyers who are against him. Mothers of the victims are now being bullied and threatened by the supporters.) 

“Ipapaalala ko rin na may panlimang kaso na nililitis sa ICC, ang offenses against the administration of justice (Article 70, Rome Statute). Mag-ingat na ang mga umaatake sa korte, sa prosecutor, at/o sa judges dahil baka madagdagan ang kaso ni Duterte,” Conti further warned. 

(I would like to remind you as well that there is a fifth case now in the ICC, which are the offenses against the administration of justice (Article 70, Rome Statute). Please be careful in attacking the court, the prosecutor, and the judges because it will only pile up the cases against Duterte.) 

Duterte was issued an arrest warrant for his alleged crimes against humanity in relation to the extrajudicial killings as part of his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs. The bloody drug war has killed thousands of individuals, including minors. 

The former president already faced the ICC last March 14 via video link. The hearing will resume in September while he is being detained at Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison. —LDF, GMA Integrated News