FALSE: Elon Musk pledges $50 million for Duterte’s legal defense fund

Marjuice Destinado

A TikTok video claims that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, pledged $50 million to support former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal defense at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over charges related to his war on drugs.

The clip has gained widespread attention, amassing over 500,000 views along with thousands of likes, shares, and comments.

CLAIM: Elon Musk pledged $50 million to fund former president Rodrigo Duterte’s legal defense.

Rating: FALSE

CONCLUSION: No credible source confirms that Elon Musk pledged $50 million for Duterte’s ICC defense, and the Philippine government says Duterte must fund his own legal team.

There is no official confirmation from Musk or any credible organization that the billionaire pledged $50 million to support Duterte’s defense at the ICC. No reputable international or local news outlet has reported on such a donation.

While the Philippine government covered the costs of transporting Duterte to The Netherlands for his ICC appearance, it does not have jurisdiction over ICC proceedings and is not responsible for funding his legal defense. The government has clarified that both Duterte and the complainants in the case are responsible for their own expenses.

In light of the potentially high legal costs, Vice President Sara Duterte, who is assisting in forming her father’s defense team in The Hague, confirmed that the team is considering applying for the ICC’s Legal Aid System (LAS) which ensures fair representation for those who are deemed indigent.

“I already told him there is a high possibility that we will apply for legal aid and that this is not a privately funded case,” the Vice President said during an online press conference on March 20.

However, this aid is not automatically granted. ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah explained that the Court will conduct a thorough financial investigation into Duterte’s financial situation to determine if he qualifies for legal assistance. The decision will be made by ICC judges, based on whether Duterte is deemed unable to cover his legal expenses. 

El Abdallah further noted that the Court may order a freeze on the accused’s assets at any stage, especially if there’s a possibility that these assets might be used later to compensate victims should a conviction be made.