FACT CHECK: Duterte’s monument photo is AI-generated
Claim: A photo shows a monument of detained former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, which some believe made his joke about having a statue beside Jose Rizal’s come true.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The TikTok video containing the claim has 1 million views, 74,600 likes, 1,197 shares, and 1,020 comments as of writing.
Text in the video states: “Joke ni Tatay Digong, nagkatotoo” (What was Father Digong’s mere joke has come true).
The video also shows Duterte saying that if people ever build him a monument, it should be beside Jose Rizal — with Rizal holding a book and him doing a finger gun pose.
Some social media users seem to believe the video, with top comments saying, “Ikalawang bayani ng Philippines, proud Tatay Digong” (Second hero of the Philippines, proud father Digong) and “Deserve niya naman ng statue; for me siya lang naman [ang president] na may nagawa sa Pilipinas” (He deserves a statue; for me, he’s the only president who has done something for the Philippines).
The facts: Duterte’s joke remains a joke. The image in the TikTok post is AI-generated, with analysis from AI detection tool Sight Engine showing a 99% likelihood of AI generation, including an 88% chance of generative AI use and 99% face manipulation.
Duterte made the joke during a speech to overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong in March 2025. Addressing reports of a possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his administration’s deadly drug war, Duterte acknowledged that he might end up in jail.
“Mag-contribute kayo maski 5 dollars, 10 dollars para paglabas ko sa presohan, pagawa ‘nyo ako monumento katabi ni Rizal,” Duterte said.
(Chip in even just $5, $10 so that when I get out of prison, you can have a monument of me built next to Rizal.)
While Rizal’s statue holds a book, Duterte joked that his own should feature him making a finger gun gesture. As of this writing, no such monument has been proposed, commissioned, or constructed by any public or private entity. The TikTok post merely features an AI-generated image of Duterte with superimposed text, but provides no credible evidence to support the claim.
Duterte dynasty: Duterte recently won the 2025 Davao City mayoral race while detained at the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity. Under the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, he must take his oath of office by November 13, 2025 — six months from his proclamation — or the mayoral post will be declared vacant.
In his absence, his youngest son and Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte is expected to serve as officer- in-charge (OIC) mayor. If this happens, his grandson Councilor Rigo Duterte II — top vote-getter in the 2025 council race — may be appointed OIC vice mayor, subject to the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s approval.
Confirmation of charges hearing: Duterte will have a confirmation of charges hearing at the ICC starting September 23. His lawyers challenged the court’s jurisdiction and tried to remove two judges for “perceived bias.” The case marks a historic first for a former Asian head of state facing prosecution at the ICC. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com
Marjuice Destinado is a Rappler intern. She is also a fact-checker and researcher-writer at Explained PH. A third-year political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU), she serves as the feature editor of Ang Suga, CNU’s official student publication.
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.