FACT CHECK: Duterte was served food in flight to The Hague after his arrest, contrary to claim

Claim: Former president Rodrigo Duterte was not served food during his flight to The Hague, The Netherlands, following his arrest on March 11, 2025, which brought him under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found in a post on March 13 from the Facebook account named “Kiffy Chu,” with around 6,100 reactions, 296 comments, and 542 shares as of writing.

The post shared a video from the page “DWSI 864” which is part of the SMNI network. Its caption states: “Please watch this: Napaka salbahe ng administration na ‘to (This [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] administration is so cruel). They made PRRD travel all the way to The Hague and there was no food in the flight.” 

The video shared was of Salvador Medialdea, executive secretary under the Duterte administration, about his experience with the former president while on the flight with him to The Hague.

The facts: Duterte was served food during his transfer to The Hague, contrary to the claim.

Multiple news outlets have shared a March 12, 2025, video from the Facebook account of Senator Bong Go, which shows Duterte eating a rice meal inside the plane; these news outlets include ABS-CBN News, GMA Regional TV News, ONE News, and Manila Standard.

The ABS-CBN News report also stated that Duterte was served a sandwich and some fruits.

A news release from the Philippine Team in the United Arab Emirates noted that it provided “full consular and logistical support” to the former president during his layover in Dubai on March 12.

The report states: “The former President specifically requested hot rice meals, a familiar comfort during his travels. Despite the stringent security measures at Al Maktoum International Airport, the Philippine team successfully coordinated with UAE aviation authorities to facilitate the delivery of the requested meals. Given the heightened security protocols, these meals had to be handed over to airport officials before being cleared and delivered to the aircraft.”

Even Medialdea, in the video shared in the post of “Kiffy Chu,” said that they were served food, as can be found at the 5:05 mark of the shared video: “Humingi kaming pagkain, binigyan ng pagkain, iyon, isang kalderong kanin.” (We asked for food, we were served food, there, one pot of rice.)

It can be recalled that during Duterte’s first appearance before the ICC on March 14, 2025, Medialdea served as Duterte’s counsel. Medialdea gave a manifestation where he said, among other things, that the transfer of Duterte to ICC custody was a “pure and simple kidnapping,” that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Duterte, and that his arrest was due to “political score settling.” (READ: Duterte: The ‘prized’ and ‘peculiar’ catch of the ICC) 

Duterte’s transfer to The Hague: Duterte was arrested in March 2025 on an ICC warrant for crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s war on drugs.

He boarded a chartered plane together with Medialdea, a nurse, and an assistant.

After a layover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the plane then landed at Rotterdam Airport in The Hague on March 12, 2025; Duterte was then brought to ICC custody at the Scheveningen Prison.

Updates on Duterte: Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing was held on  February 23, 24, 26, and 27, 2026, which aimed to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

Following the conclusion of the hearings, the ICC pre-trial chamber began its deliberations and is set to issue a decision within 60 days of the last day of the hearing. (WATCH: SPECIAL COVERAGE: Duterte’s pre-trial hearing at the ICC)

Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked several claims about the Duterte case at the ICC. Readily recognizable among these are false claims that Duterte has already been released from ICC custody and has returned home, and claims that his crimes against humanity case has already been dismissed. (READ: Inside the pro-Duterte playbook: A year of disinformation vs ICC case) – Percival Bueser/Rappler.com

Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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