ICC presiding judge Iulia Motoc targeted online by Rodrigo Duterte's supporters
International Criminal Court Judge Iulia Motoc may have her hands full with former president Rodrigo Duterte's alleged crimes against humanity case, but it appears that she also has to deal with his ardent supporters who have been spreading fake information about her online.
Motoc serves as the presiding judge for the Pre-Trial Chamber in the case concerning Duterte. After the controversial ex-leader attended his first hearing with the ICC on March 14, many of his supporters were quick to target Motoc's social media pages for her involvement in the case.
On her LinkedIn account, specifically, some were urging her to release Duterte and bring him back to the Philippines.
"Bring back our former President who was kidnapped without due process from our existing and working sovereignty! He deserves to be tried in our working trial courts! You cannot accept a case without any of those required requisites!" one user wrote in the comments section on Motoc's post from three years ago.
"Please hear our cries! Please release our beloved president Rody Duterte! This is a huge mistake. Is it a crime to protect the women, children, and the future? You have no idea how corrupt and shameless our leaders are today before Duterte," another commented.
Motoc has also limited the comments section of her posts on Facebook, which have been receiving a sudden stream of angry reactions from other online users despite having no relation whatsoever to Duterte's case nor her job at the ICC.
Target of fake news
Additionally, false information targeting Motoc has circulated online, including claims linking her to the Marcos family based on a photograph of First Lady Liza Marcos with a group of women.
Some falsely asserted that Motoc and her fellow ICC judge, Socorro Flores Liera, were among those in the photo, but the women they claim are Filipinos, identified as Katrina Roman Quintas and Katrina Ponce-Enrile.
The photo was taken during the Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, from March 5 to 8.
Original photo: pic.twitter.com/1NDe1uhB3U
— -the real CHENpion- (@OlyCHENpion) March 15, 2025
Moreover, concerns were raised regarding Motoc's suitability to preside over Duterte's trial, citing her use of French during his initial appearance. This was based on her address to Duterte in French, with an English interpreter providing translation.
"Imagine being tried in an international court by people who can't even speak the universal language," one user said.
Contrary to these claims, Motoc's curriculum vitae cites her as being proficient in five languages, namely, her mother tongue Romanian, English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
Despite the sea of criticisms and fake news, the ICC judge has also received praise for the way she handled Duterte's case. For instance, Mel Sta. Maria, former dean of the Far Eastern University’s Institute of Law, highlighted how she is a "no-nonsense" judge.
"Very focused on the direction of the hearing. Brief in denying the motions of the defense. And in a very diplomatic, respectful, and straightforward way, relayed the message that the manifestation of counsel for the defense was out-of-place," he said in a post.
Action against disinformation
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro addressed the rise of malicious information online amid Duterte's case.
"This is very obvious that more fake news are lingering, maybe because of the present situation regarding the arrest of former president Duterte. We are taking steps like what we had last week—we had this live discussion with the concerned authorities to answer all those issues that had been raised by some people from the mainstream and the social media," Castro said.
"So with these kinds of projects we have with the [PCO], like the press briefing and the live discussion, I think people will have a chance to know what is fake news and what is not," she added.
Castro further assured that they are coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation regarding their plan of action to run after fake news peddlers.
"Lalong lalo na po talagang dumarami ang fake news, para po malihis ang katotohanan, she said. "'Yung mga ganun pong iresponsableng mga pananalita ay dapat ang tao ay magmasid, mag-isip, at matuto pong mag-evaluate para po hindi nagugulo ang ating isipan at damdamin."
ICC-accredited lawyer Joel Butuyan on Monday suggested Duterte may be negatively impacted by the online spamming campaign surrounding his arrest.
"I agree that it's going to affect the judges, especially on the issue on the interim release. Because makikita ng mga judges na sobrang powerful talaga young voices ng Duterte camp dahil lang sa ICC at puwede silang i-bully and i-harass and i-attempt na i-manipulate," he said.
Duterte's arrest
Duterte was arrested on March 11 and was brought to the Villamor Air Base upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong.
He is accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Roman Statute."
Specifically, he is allegedly involved in the murder of at least 19 persons reported to be drug pushers or thieves who were killed by members of the Davao Death Squad in various locations in or around Davao City between 2011 and 2016, as well as the murder of at least 24 alleged criminals who were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines law enforcement at various locations in the country between 2016 and 2019.
On March 14, the controversial ex-leader attended his first hearing through a video link where he was informed of his alleged crimes against humanity and his rights as a defendant.
His next appearance is set for Sept. 23 for the next stage of the process, a hearing to confirm the charges.
Duterte could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
