Manila: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday announced its intention to take necessary measures against the spread of disinformation on social media, following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to Philippines News Agency, the SC has observed social media posts, particularly from Facebook accounts named 'Choose Libungan' and 'Bernard Flores Maicon,' circulating a fabricated document dated March 16, 2025. This document, falsely attributed to the Supreme Court spokesperson, is titled 'Supreme Court Receives Petition on 16 Million Signatures Calling for President Marcos' Resignation.'

The SC firmly denied the authenticity of the document, stating, "No such statement has been issued by the Supreme Court Spokesperson." The same Facebook accounts also inaccurately claimed that the high court's en banc would convene on Monday to discuss the alleged petition. The Supreme Court clarified, "This is completely untrue. The Supreme Court has not received any such petition, and no En Banc session is scheduled today for this matter."

The court further noted that previous false reports, including those on March 11, 2025, which alleged that the Supreme Court had issued a temporary restraining order, will be reviewed for appropriate action. The SC emphasized its commitment to investigating these incidents and imposing proper sanctions on those responsible for spreading false information.

The Supreme Court urged the public to rely solely on official announcements from the SC, accessible on its official website (sc.judiciary.gov.ph) and verified social media accounts. It also cautioned against sharing unverified information and encouraged the public to verify the authenticity of any statement claiming to be from the Supreme Court before disseminating it.