FACT-CHECK: Trump’s sanction on ICC judges not related to Duterte case

Jul 16, 2025 | Fact Checked by PressOnePH

CLAIM: U.S. President Donald Trump’s sanctions against the ICC’s four judges will eventually lead to the release of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
 
RATING: FALSE

 

A YouTube video posted by “Pinas News Insider” falsely claimed that the sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on the four ICC judges will be the basis for the eventual release of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The video contains a caption that reads, “Wala na! Finish na? Pres TRUMP GoodNews! Nasa 1CC Lum0 S0b na? Et0 na Tatap0s saLahat! RRD Tagumpay?”  (“It’s done! Good News! President Trump invades ICC? This will be the end of it all! Will RRD win?”). 

It also has a thumbnail text that says, “PRRD LALAYA NABA? PRES TRUMP MAY MATINDING UTOS SA 1CC?” (Will PRRD be released? President Trump has intense command to the ICC?)

However, the sanction imposed by President Trump on the four ICC judges has no connection to Duterte’s crimes against humanity case and his petition for interim release. 

According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump sanctioned the ICC judges, Solomy Balungi Bossa, Luz Del Carmen Ibanez Carranza, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapino Gansou, Beti Hohler, due to what the U.S. claims as the court’s illegitimate actions targeting the United States and its ally, Israel. 

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

Bossa and Carranza are responsible for the ICC’s probe against U.S military personnel in Afghanistan, while Gansou and Hohler are responsible for the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant targeting Netanyahu. 

Moreover, Gansou is one of the judges handling the crimes against humanity case of Duterte. Still, the sanction has no connection to his request for interim release. 

As of writing, the video has reached 180,000 views, 13,000 likes, and 838 comments. Marybeth Realba


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