FACT CHECK: Quote card decrying ‘bias’ in Duterte case cites fake ICC judge

Claim: International Criminal Court (ICC) “insider judge” Ambawtukahm blasts his fellow judges for allegedly showing bias in the case of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. 

Rating: FALSE 

Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook reel showing the quote card was posted on June 6 and has already received 141,000 views, 2,100 reactions, 323 shares, and 66 comments as of writing. 

The quote is attributed to a certain “Judge Ambawtukahm,” who is also described as an “ICC prosecutor.”

The quote from the supposed judge reads, “I am deeply ‘outraged’ at my fellow judges in the International Criminal Court for their obvious ‘bias’ and complete disregard of Rule 34 and the so-called basic netorare rights of former president Rodrigo Duterte.” 

Ambawtukahm added that Duterte was kidnapped and illegally detained, and that he is doing everything in his power to prove Duterte’s innocence. 

Many Facebook users in the comment section believed that the quote card was genuine. One comment read, “That is correct, he has been kidnapped, which is illegal.” 

The facts: The quote card is fake. The deputy prosecutor in Duterte’s ICC case is Mame Mandiaye Niang, and there are no ICC judges named “Ambawtukahm.” 

The name “Ambawtukahm” is likely referring to a meme associated with adult film star and American internet personality Dreamybull. A similar quote card has already been debunked by several fact-checking organizations, such as Rappler and AFP Fact-check, in December 2025. The fake quote card shows the same photo of the “judge” allegedly supporting Duterte and also contains sexually suggestive details, hinting at its inauthenticity. 

Inconsistent: The claim that the supposed prosecutor “is doing everything to defend” Duterte is also inconsistent with the actual role of the prosecution. According to the ICC’s official website, the Office of the Prosecutor is responsible for carrying out investigations and prosecutions against individuals alleged to have committed genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

Conflict of interest: The fake quote claims that the ICC disregarded Rule 34 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, which sets out the grounds for disqualification of a judge, prosecutor, or deputy prosecutor. 

In October 2025, the ICC judges disqualified Karim Khan, the former prosecutor in Duterte’s case, over a possible conflict of interest. The defense had called for Khan’s disqualification because of his involvement in communications to the court from victims of Duterte’s war on drugs. The ICC said that Khan’s disqualification won’t impact the Duterte case.

The former president, who has been detained since March 2025, faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to his war on drugs campaign. – Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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