FACT CHECK: Locsin did not testify at ICC; no release order for Duterte

Claim: Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. testified before the International Criminal Court (ICC), leading to an order for the release of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video making the claim has over 70,000 views, 4,500 likes, and 345 comments as of writing. It was posted by “PINAS NEWS INSIDER,” a channel with 1.2 million subscribers that presents itself as a news outlet. 

The title in the video states: “Confirmed! Good news! PH ambassador to UK Teddy Boy Locsin tumestigo sa ICC? Lalabas na si RD?”

(Confirmed! Good news! Philippine Ambassador to the UK Teddy Boy Locsin testified in the ICC? Is [Rodrigo Duterte] about to be released?)

The facts: Locsin did not testify before the ICC and did not appear in any ICC proceedings involving Duterte, nor did he trigger any order for Duterte’s release from court custody. There is no ICC record, ruling, hearing transcript, or news report confirming his alleged involvement as a witness in the case.

Moreover, the ICC has not issued an order releasing Duterte. On Thursday, April 23, the Pre-Trial Chamber I unanimously confirmed all charges against the former president, finding “substantial grounds” to believe Duterte is criminally responsible for crimes against humanity related to his bloody war on drugs. The court noted evidence of drug war killings falsely reported as self-defense (“nanlaban”), based on witness accounts describing planted evidence and staged crime scenes allegedly involving police officers and members of the Davao Death Squad. (READ: In going to trial, ICC notes evidence of fake ‘nanlaban,’ ‘ghost’ DDS workers)

Human rights lawyers and the families of the victims welcomed the ruling, saying it strengthens accountability and renewed hopes for justice. (READ: In going to trial, ICC notes evidence of fake ‘nanlaban,’ ‘ghost’ DDS workers)

This ruling formally advances the case to trial, a stage where the accused is expected to remain under the court’s custody while proceedings continue. This makes the video’s claim that Locsin’s supposed testimony “led to an order for Duterte’s release” false, since no release order was issued in the first place. 

The misleading video merely references Locsin’s alleged social media post in 2025, where he supposedly said Filipinos “abducted” Duterte and handed him over to foreigners following the former president’s March 2025 arrest and transfer to the ICC.

ICC jurisdiction: The ICC has also rejected Duterte’s appeal challenging its jurisdiction, affirming in its April 22, 2026 ruling that it retains authority over the case despite the Philippines’ 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute. The ICC ruled that withdrawal does not stop ongoing proceedings, including preliminary examinations and investigations already underway.

With jurisdiction affirmed and charges moving forward, the ICC will now constitute a trial chamber composed of judges different from those of the pre-trial stage. This chamber will conduct status conferences and prepare the case for trial. Duterte would be required to appear before the court, either in person or through a court-approved modality. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com

Marjuice Destinado is a senior political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU) and an alumna of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2025.

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