False Video of Duterte Endorsing Sara for 2028 Election Created with AI

Deepfake Video of Duterte Supporting Daughter’s Presidential Bid Debunked

A deepfake video falsely depicting former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte urging public support for his daughter’s vice presidency and potential 2028 presidential run has been confirmed as AI-generated, according to multiple digital forensic tools.

The manipulated footage, which has gained significant traction with over 133,000 views and thousands of shares since being posted on December 3, shows what appears to be Duterte speaking directly to viewers. In the fabricated message, the deepfake Duterte makes an emotional appeal: “Fellow countrymen, I boldly call for your full support for my daughter Inday in her role as vice president and in her run for president of the Philippines in 2028.”

The video continues with the AI-generated Duterte expressing fear for his life, claiming those who “destroyed” his honor remain in power. “I wholeheartedly leave the responsibility of continuing the fight to Inday. She will stand up for the people. She will be the one to collect. She will be the one to hold them accountable,” the fabricated message states.

Technical analysis confirmed the video’s fraudulent nature. Hive Moderation, an AI detection tool, flagged the content as 99.9% likely to contain deepfake material. This assessment was reinforced by Deepware Scanner’s Avatarify model, which detected 82% deepfake content. Additionally, Sight Engine identified a screenshot from the video as 98% AI-generated, with a 64% probability it was created using OpenAI’s advanced GPT-4o model.

The video features telling details that further expose its inauthenticity, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) logo visible behind the fabricated Duterte. The real Duterte was indeed arrested and detained in The Hague, Netherlands on March 11, facing charges of crimes against humanity related to his controversial war on drugs campaign. Recently, the ICC appeals chamber denied Duterte’s appeal for interim release, citing risk factors including potential evasion of prosecution.

What makes this deepfake particularly concerning is its exploitation of real political developments. Vice President Sara Duterte has indeed expressed interest in a 2028 presidential bid. In January 2024, she revealed plans to run in the next election without specifying the position, and by February acknowledged she was “seriously” considering a presidential campaign. She reiterated these intentions at a Hong Kong event in March, around the time of her father’s anticipated arrest upon return to the Philippines.

The deceptive video omitted any disclaimer about its AI-generated nature, leading many viewers to believe it authentic. Social media comments reveal that numerous users accepted the content at face value, with one popular comment stating, “Bring tatay home…yes tay,” garnering dozens of positive reactions.

This incident represents a growing trend of AI-generated misinformation in Philippine politics. Similar deepfakes of Duterte have previously been identified and debunked, highlighting the increasing sophistication of such fabrications and the challenges they pose to information integrity during politically sensitive periods.

As AI-generated content becomes increasingly realistic and accessible, the incident underscores the critical importance of digital literacy and vigilance when consuming politically charged content on social media platforms.