Video shows anti-corruption rally in Serbia, not pro-Duterte demonstration

Published on March 18, 2025 at 04:31
3 min read
By Jan Cuyco, AFP Philippines

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's arrest has sparked protests from his supporters, including in front of the International Criminal Court in the Dutch city of The Hague where he faces crimes against humanity charges. But widely shared footage purportedly depicting a massive rally in The Netherlands is unrelated and shows an anti-corruption demonstration in Serbia.

"Godbless... solid supporter of Father Digs... IN Netherland (sic)," reads the Tagalog-language caption of a Facebook reel shared on March 13, 2025, referring to Duterte's popular nickname among his supporters.

The video shows a huge crowd on a street with some carrying flags and placards. Superimposed text also says the video was taken in The Netherlands.

Pro-Duterte supporters have reshared the circulating video online, garnering more than three million views combined.

Keyword searches on TikTok found the audio heard in the clip corresponds to another post in November 2024 (archived link).

Screenshot of the false post, taken on March 17, 2025

Duterte, the first ex-Asian head of state to face ICC charges, stands accused of the crime against humanity of murder over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups said killed thousands.

He made his first virtual appearance before the ICC judges on March 13 after he was taken into custody by The Hague-based tribunal (archived link).

The judge has set a date of September 23 for the next stage of the process: a hearing to confirm the charges.

Duterte's supporters flocked to The Hague-based court following his arrest but the circulating video is unrelated (archived link).

Serbian protest

Reverse image searches on Google found Serbian news outlet TV N1 Beograd posted a similar video on X on March 1, 2025 (archived link).

"The students and citizens in Niš paid their respects to the victims of the fall of the canopy in Novi Sad. After 15 minutes the silence turned into thunderous noise," reads its Serbian-language caption.

Screenshot comparison of the circulating video (left) and the video from TV N1 Beograd

The BBC also published a similar video of the demonstration filmed in the area on the same day (archived link).

AFP reported that thousands of protesters amassed in the southern Serbian city of Niš on March 1 as part of student-led anti-corruption rallies that rocked the Balkan nation after the fatal collapse of a train station last year killed 15 people (archived link).

For months, the movement has put increasing pressure on the Serbian government and President Aleskandar Vucic, spurring the resignation of several high-ranking officials, including the prime minister in January.

Elements in the circulating video matched features in the Serbian city.

The official flag of Serbia -- which is marked by red, blue and white horizontal stripes -- can be spotted at the video's three-second mark (archived link).

A white building with the clothing label H&M was also shown near a Serbian commercial bank named Alta Banka.

Finally, a dome-shaped entrance to an underground passage is located at the middle of the two establishments.

Based on these clues, AFP geolocated the video along Vožda Karađorđa street in the Serbian city of Niš (archived link).

Screenshot comparison of the false video (left) and the Google Maps Satellite View

Duterte's stunning arrest in Manila fuelled a firestorm of misinformation falsely depicting rallies held in support of the ex-president, some of which AFP has debunked here.

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