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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Claim: A photo shows former president Rodrigo Duterte wearing judicial garb in the Supreme Court.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The original post was shared on Facebook and gained over 14,000 reactions and 24,000 shares before it was deleted. Along with the photo, the post was accompanied by a text caption about Duterte’s involvement in the impeachment trial of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
The same photo was used in another post that describes Duterte as an “expert in political warfare” and cites his “strong legal experience and superb inside knowledge.” As of writing, this post has 22,000 reactions and 1,200 comments.
Multiple pro-Duterte Facebook accounts and pages have shared the image.
The facts: The photo is digitally altered. A reverse image search confirms that the original image shows Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, not Duterte. The picture, posted on the Supreme Court’s official website, was taken during an oath-taking ceremony officiated by Gesmundo for the officers and directors of the Philippine Judges Association in 2024.
In the edited version, Gesmundo’s head was replaced with Duterte’s.
A Facebook user also debunked the legitimacy of the image by sharing screenshots of the post’s edit history, which showed that as the post gained more engagement, its caption was repeatedly modified to reinforce the false claim.
Duterte defending VP Duterte: In December 2024, the Vice President announced that her father would be joining her legal counsel to defend her in her impeachment trial. The former president is a lawyer by profession and previously worked as a prosecutor in Davao City before entering politics.
Based on the Vice President’s petition asking the Supreme Court to block her impeachment trial, her father-in-law, Lucas Carpio Jr., is also listed as part of her defense team. There is currently no rule barring lawyers from representing their family members in the Philippines. (READ: Frequently asked questions on VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial)
The House of Representatives impeached the Vice President on February 5, 2025. The ball is now in the Senate’s court, with Senate President Chiz Escudero saying the chamber will likely convene as an impeachment court in June 2025, after Congress’ recess. (LOOK: Proposed timetable for impeachment trial against VP Sara Duterte)
Other fact checks: Rappler has fact-checked several claims about the Dutertes:
FACT CHECK: Photos of Duterte Senate slate supporters are AI-generated
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FACT CHECK: ‘Duterte!’ chants fabricated in video of Marcos at Palarong Pambansa 2024
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FACT CHECK: Post praising Duterte used ‘quote’ from fictional character Nick Fury
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FACT CHECK: Marcos, Duterte ratings attributed to OCTA Research is fake
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FALSE: Queen Elizabeth II impressed by Duterte’s good governance
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– Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com
Efren Cyril Bocar is a student journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar, enrolled in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. A managing editor of Amaranth, Cyril is a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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