Jailed Philippine ex-leader not released after election win
Duterte's supporters on Facebook shared similar posts days after he was re-elected mayor of his family stronghold Davao city in a landslide vote while in a cell in The Hague (archived link).
He was arrested at Manila's international airport on March 11, 2025 and flown to the International Criminal Court to face charges tied to his crackdown on drugs that killed thousands (archived link).
His camp has said they would seek his interim release but AFP has not found any official notice on the tribunal's website this had been granted as of May 21 (archived here and here).
Duterte's communication has come sporadically and through surrogates, mainly his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte who was asked about Davao city possibly having an "absentee mayor" (archived link).
"Well definitely yes, he really isn't here," she said following Duterte's mayoral win.
Moreover, the circulating visuals purportedly showing Duterte's return home are misrepresented.
A reverse image search on Google found the ex-president's photo on a commercial plane in a July 8, 2016 article from MindaNews (archived link).
"Philippine Air Lines steward greets President Rodrigo Duterte at the economy section of the aircraft that would bring him to Davao City from Manila on Thursday, July 7, 2016," says its caption.
Local media outlet Rappler said he was attending an event with Muslim leaders from southern Philippines (archived link).
Meanwhile, his other picture surrounded by aides inside an aircraft was taken on an official trip to India, according to state-run Philippine News Agency that published the photo on January 25, 2018 (archived here and here).
"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte flashes his signature pose with the members of his delegation while on board Philippine Airlines chartered flight PR001 bound for New Delhi, India on January 24, 2018," reads the caption.
Duterte's next trial to confirm charges is scheduled on September 23 (archived link).
AFP has debunked more misinformation surrounding his arrest here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
18 minutes ago
- Business Insider
South African general's unapproved visit to Iran may signal complex US relations
The move, which did not receive government backing, has drawn sharp criticism from members of South Africa's governing coalition, who described the visit as ' reckless grandstanding.' The row comes as South Africa navigates tense relations with the US, which has taken exception to the country's ties with Iran, Russia, and its strong affiliation with BRICS. According to Iranian media outlet WANA News Agency, Iran's Chief of Staff, Major General Mousavi, condemned what he called the crimes of the Israeli regime in the region—particularly genocide in Gaza—and praised South Africa's decision to file and pursue a genocide case against Israel at the International Criminal Court. General Maphwanya noted that the two countries shared common goals and always stood ' alongside the oppressed and defenceless people of the world, ' according to the Iranian publication Tehran Times. He also criticised Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza, reiterating support for the Palestinian people and telling officials his visit ' carries a political message ' from Ramaphosa's administration as per The BBC The South African government, however, has denied authorising these comments. According to the South African Defence Department, the general's statement was 'unfortunate,' while the Foreign Affairs Ministry said they ' do not represent the government's official foreign policy stance.' President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed that the president was unaware of the trip and had not sanctioned it. ' The visit was ill-advised and, more so, the expectation is that the general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes,' Magwenya told reporters. The Democratic Alliance, a member of South Africa's governing coalition, called for General Maphwanya to be 'court-martialled.' The presidency also confirmed that President Ramaphosa intends to meet with the general to discuss the implications of what he called an 'ill-advised' trip. South Africa's waning U.S. relations South Africa's ties with Iran could likely be one of the issues that influenced President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs, even though they were officially justified by trade imbalances. Under Trump, US trade policy increasingly blended economic and geopolitical concerns, and Pretoria's growing engagement with Tehran through diplomatic and military discussions raised Washington's alarm. These interactions likely reinforced the perception that South Africa was aligning with a country at odds with key US strategic interests. While the visit has not yet directly altered bilateral relations, analysts warn that it could complicate South Africa's already delicate relationship with the United States, which has long expressed concerns over Pretoria's ties with Tehran and other contentious international partnerships. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in a statement that it had noted recent media reports on comments attributed to General Rudzani Maphwanya but stressed that the formulation and implementation of the country's foreign policy is the responsibility of the Presidency, supported by DIRCO. ' Consequently, any statements made by an individual or a department other than those mandated with foreign policy should not be misconstrued as the official position of the South African government. The remarks attributed to General Maphwanya, therefore, do not reflect the government's official foreign policy stance, ' it said.
Business Insider
18 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Vintage photos show Alaska before it became a state
Alaska was controversially purchased by the US from Russia in 1867. Critics called the transaction "Seward's Folly" after US Secretary of State William Seward. Alaska was officially made the 49th state in January 1959. One commonly accepted theory was that the first people traveled to North America from Asia via the Bering Land Bridge, although more recent discoveries suggest they made their way by sea. Russia began colonizing Alaska and other parts of North America in the late 1700s, establishing Russian America and making money off the fur trade. But by the 1860s, the fur trade had declined due to over-hunting. US critics dubbed the purchase "Seward's Folly," named for then-Secretary of State William Seward because they felt the land, which they called an "icebox," was useless. The transaction was also made against the wishes of some Native Alaskans, who argued it wasn't Russia's land to sell, according to the Alaska Native Foundation. Three decades later, the Klondike Gold Strike brought thousands of migrants to the territory. Alaska officially became a state 92 years after the transaction, in January 1959, making it the 49th state. Hawaii became the 50th state that same year. Now, Alaska is a popular tourist destination, with thousands of people traveling there via cruise each year. It's also the location of President Donald Trump's high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. As well as a symbolic choice, considering the state's history with Russia, it's also a practical one: It's the closest US state to Russia, and Putin, who is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes, can step foot there without fear of arrest. These vintage photos show what Alaska looked like before it became part of the United States. 1955: This photo of a group of Indigenous Alaskans was taken 70 years ago.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Far-right Israeli minister confronts long-imprisoned Palestinian leader face to face
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A video widely circulated on Friday shows Israel's far-right national security minister berating a Palestinian leader face-to-face inside a prison, saying anyone who acts against the country will be 'wiped out.' Marwan Barghouti is serving five life sentences after being convicted of involvement in attacks at the height of the Palestinian uprising, or intifada, in the early 2000s. Polls consistently show he is the most popular Palestinian leader. He has rarely been seen since his arrest more than two decades ago. It was unclear when the video was taken, but it shows National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for staging provocative encounters with Palestinians, telling Barghouti that he will 'not win.' 'Anyone who murders children, who murders women, we will wipe them out,' Ben-Gvir said. Ben-Gvir's spokesman confirmed the visit and the video's authenticity, but denied that the minister was threatening Barghouti. Barghouti, now in his mid-60s, was a senior leader in President Mahmoud Abbas' secular Fatah movement during the intifada. Many Palestinians see him as a natural successor to the aging and unpopular leader of the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel considers him a terrorist and has shown no sign it would release him. Hamas has demanded his release in exchange for hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. In a Facebook post, Barghouti's wife said she couldn't recognize her husband, who appeared frail in the video. Still, she said after watching the video, he remained connected to the Palestinian people. 'Perhaps a part of me does not want to acknowledge everything that your face and body shows, and what you and the prisoners have been through,' wrote Fadwa Al Barghouthi, who spells their last name differently in English. Israeli officials say they have reduced the conditions under which Palestinians are held to the bare minimum allowed under Israeli and international law. Many detainees released as part of a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this year appeared gaunt and ill, and some were taken for immediate medical treatment.
