FACT CHECK: Chinese embassy did not confirm Duterte’s ‘orchestrated’ ICC arrest

The Chinese embassy in Manila has not made any statement confirming Marcos and Pangilinan’s collusion for Duterte’s arrest; the ICC repeatedly asserted that the court is a judicial institution, operating independently and impartially

AT A GLANCE

• The Chinese embassy did not confirm that President Marcos sent Duterte to The Hague at Senator Pangilinan's request, contradicting claims made on social media.
• The embassy's response to Pangilinan's remarks was rhetorical and did not affirm any statements regarding Duterte's arrest or the senator's request.
• Duterte's arrest in March 2025 was based on an ICC warrant, and the ICC has denied any collusion with the Philippine administration regarding the case.

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Claim: The Chinese embassy confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sent former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague at Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s request.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: Posts made by Facebook users Mike Romero and Gerald Mfgbf Sards Sarmiento claimed that the Chinese embassy confirmed that two government officials were behind Duterte’s arrest. They share an identical statement: “The Chinese Embassy has now confirmed that it was BBM who sent PRRD to The Hague at the request of Senator Pangilinan.”

The posts were made on October 21, 2026, several hours after the Chinese embassy in Manila responded to Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s remarks on Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan.

As of writing, the posts drew a total of 7,400 reactions, more than 1,000 comments, and 1,254 shares.

The facts: While the Chinese embassy did undermine Pangilinan, it did not say that the senator requested Marcos to send Duterte to The Hague. Instead, the embassy replied to an earlier post made by Pangilinan asking the President to send Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan back to China.

In his post, Pangilinan wrote: “Mr. President, if you can send Duterte, Quiboloy and Remualdez to jail… then you can most certainly send this arrogant, insulting, crude and insolent alien back to his country of origin,” referring to the Chinese Ambassador. 

The Chinese embassy’s official Facebook page only responded with rhetorical questions regarding the senator’s language. It did not officially affirm his statements on Duterte, Quiboloy, and Romualdez. 

The embassy’s post read: “Using thuggish, hooligan-style language to launch personal attacks on others—is this the calibre and standards of a Philippine senator? Is this the diplomacy and prudence that the DFA claims to uphold?”

Duterte’s arrest: In March 2025, Duterte’s arrest was facilitated by Philippine authorities, in accordance with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity. President Marcos affirmed that this facilitation complied with the Philippines’ commitment to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

The ICC has also repeatedly refuted allegations of dependence on the Philippine administration. In a statement sent to the Inquirer, ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet said the court is mandated to operate independently and impartially under the Rome Statute. 

A separate interview with ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah presents a denial of collusion with the Marcos administration, as court judges make decisions independently.

Chinese embassy and the West Philippine Sea: In an interview with the media on October 15, the ambassador said the Philippines “should feel fortunate” that China does not use force in its maritime dispute. His statement was a response to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s statement saying Beijing was a troublemaker in the region, and not Manila. 

Public officials, including Pangilinan, then reacted to the ambassador’s statement. 

Before this incident, it was reported that since Jing took over in December 2025, the Chinese embassy in Manila has amplified its rhetoric and engaged in online word wars with Philippine government spokespersons and officials.

Previous fact-checks: As the maritime dispute continues, Duterte remains at the ICC. The actual trial will begin on November 30. Rappler has previously fact-checked claims regarding Duterte at the ICC:

• FACT CHECK: No ICC admission of being ‘paid’ by Marcos gov’t in Duterte case
• FACT CHECK: No Trump plan to secure Duterte’s release from ICC
• FACT CHECK: ICC’s rejection of Duterte’s appeal for interim release misrepresented as reclusion perpetua sentence
• FACT CHECK: ICC did not junk Duterte’s case

– Jade Florido/Rappler.com

Jade Florido is a volunteer for Rappler’s Research and Data unit. She is a third-year Development Studies student at the University of the Philippines – Manila.

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