Filipino concern over online disinfo hits record high—Digital News Report 2025
Concern over online mis- and disinformation in the Philippines climbed to a record 67% in early 2025 amid a politically charged midterm election season that saw Vice President Sara Duterte impeached on corruption charges and former president Rodrigo Duterte arrested by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity tied to his brutal drug war.
AI fakes duel over Sara Duterte impeachment in Philippines
The schoolboys and elderly woman making their cases were AI creations, examples of increasingly sophisticated fakes possible with even basic online tools.
Footage of Philippine election workers destroying unused ballots not proof of fraud
The Philippines’ electoral commission and watchdogs have told AFP it is “standard procedure” to destroy unused ballots after each election, contrary to false claims on social media that it was proof of fraud at the midterm polls in May.
NO announcement to push for lowering early retirement age to 39
A Facebook post is claiming that senator-elect Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III will file a bill lowering the early retirement age to 39 years old. This is false.
Old video used to FALSELY claim Duterte is free
A video circulating on Facebook claims that former president Rodrigo Duterte has been freed as he supposedly exited the premises of the International Criminal Court detention center. This is false.
BASELESS claim that ICC received USD100M for Duterte’s arrest circulates
A viral Facebook reel is claiming that Philippine government officials transferred US$100 million to the International Criminal Court for the release of the warrant of arrest against former president Rodrigo Duterte. The claim has no basis.
Tension did not rise between Padilla and Dela Rosa over VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment
A YouTube channel uploaded a video on June 10, falsely claiming that tension arose between Sen. Robin Padilla and Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over the issue of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment.
AI-generated video of a student interview about VP Duterte’s impeachment spreads
A video featuring a student supposedly opposing the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte has been confirmed as content manipulated through artificial intelligence (AI).
Sara Duterte was not hospitalized
A Facebook page falsely claimed that Kitty Duterte had released a statement that Vice President Sara Duterte was in critical condition in a hospital.
Photo of Vice President Duterte asking for money via GCash, AI-generated
A video containing an AI-generated photo that falsely depicts Vice President Sara Duterte soliciting money through GCash while holding a QR code has surfaced on Facebook.
Vice President Sara Duterte shook hands with Sen. Bong Go
A video of Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Bong Go has circulated on Facebook, falsely claiming that the vice president avoided shaking hands with Go.
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Dela Rosa draws flak over AI video of students opposing Sara Duterte’s impeachment
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa unapologetically shared an AI-generated video of Filipino students opposing the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Post-election information analysis with UP Assoc. Prof. Danilo Arao
Panoorin ang post-election information analysis kasama si UP Department of Journalism Assoc. Prof. Danilo A. Arao, PhD. Kabilang sa mga tinalakay sa panayam ang disinformation, red-tagging, at historical denialism.
Tsek/Eks: ‘Walang Warrant sa Pag-aresto kay Duterte?’
Balikan natin ang timeline ng ICC case – mula Davao Death Squad hanggang sa The Hague upang suriin kung ilegal nga ba ang pagdakip kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
MEDIA & INFORMATION LITERACY
After Bato and Baste’s AI shares: How to identify AI-generated content online
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Senator Ronald dela Rosa shared a viral post about a supposed interview of youth sentiment on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings.
Late dictator Marcos Sr., nagmulto kay BBM?
Tila nagparamdam si late dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. sa kaniyang anak na si President Bongbong Marcos sa isang video. Turns out, deepfake pala ito!
Tsek/Eks: ‘Katotohanan o Kathang AI?’
Sa isang deepfake video, kinausap raw ni Trump ang mga DDS at sinabing, “these DDS people need education?’”
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