Marcos Hospital Bed Photo Confirmed as AI-Generated

The image purportedly showing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on a ventilator has been confirmed as a fabrication, as health misinformation continues to spread on social media platforms amid legitimate concerns about the leader’s recent hospitalization.

A widely shared Facebook post claimed to show Marcos lying in a hospital bed connected to a ventilator, with accompanying text suggesting he was recovering from diverticulitis. The post, which garnered over 4,600 reactions and was shared more than 400 times, falsely implied the update came directly from Malacañang Palace.

Multiple AI detection tools, including Sensity and Sightengine, identified the image as artificial with confidence ratings of 98-99%, confirming suspicions that the photo had been digitally generated to create a false impression about the President’s condition.

The fabricated image began circulating shortly after Marcos’ brief hospitalization on January 21 at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City. While the President was indeed admitted for what officials described as “medical observation as a precautionary measure” following reports of discomfort, he was subsequently diagnosed with diverticulitis—an inflammation of pouches that can form in the intestinal wall—and was discharged shortly thereafter.

In response to the spreading misinformation, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) released video footage on January 28 showing Marcos in good health, stating that he was “doing well in his recovery.” Palace officials have since confirmed that the President has resumed his duties, emphasizing there was “no cause for concern” that would necessitate issuing a formal medical bulletin.

This episode marks the latest in a series of false claims regarding Marcos’ health that have circulated on social media. St. Luke’s Medical Center also issued a public advisory denouncing purported medical documents about the President’s condition that appeared online, describing them as “fake and falsified.” The hospital emphasized its commitment to patient confidentiality and data privacy standards.

Health misinformation targeting political figures has become increasingly common globally, with AI-generated content presenting new challenges for fact-checkers and government communications teams. The sophisticated nature of such fabricated content can make it difficult for average social media users to distinguish between authentic and manipulated imagery.

The proliferation of such content highlights broader concerns about information integrity in the Philippines, where social media plays a significant role in shaping public discourse. Media literacy experts note that health-related misinformation can be particularly damaging, as it exploits legitimate public interest in leadership stability.

Government officials continue to urge citizens to verify information through official channels and remain vigilant against misleading content. The Presidential Communications Office maintains active social media accounts where official updates on the President’s activities and condition are regularly posted.

For Marcos’ administration, tackling this wave of health-related misinformation represents both a communications challenge and a reminder of the importance of transparent health disclosures for public officials, balancing privacy concerns with the public’s right to information about their leaders’ wellbeing.