Malacañang on Monday, June 16, called on government officials to exercise caution and responsibility when posting photos, videos, and information on social media, warning against the growing threat of fake news and AI-generated disinformation.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro emphasized the public trust given to elected and high-ranking officials, noting how easily the public believes the information they share.
“Ang pagpa-share ng mga katulad na ganyan [AI-generated content], muli disinformation, fake news, hindi po sana nanggagaling sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan,” Palace Communications Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said during a press briefing.
“Responsibilidad nila ‘to, dahil ang bawat salita na binibitawan nila sa taumbayan, leader sila, yan ay totoo sa pandinig at pananaw ng bawat isa. So dapat maging responsable sa anumang sinishare nila na impormasyon sa ating mga kababayan,” she stated.
The Palace said such actions weaken public trust, especially when the source of misinformation is no less than government leaders.
“Hindi po sana nanggagaling sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan. Nakakaduda, mas nakakawala ng tiwala kung mismong sa matataas na opisyal nanggagaling ang mga misinformation at fake news,” she stressed.
The Palace's warning comes after Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte shared an AI-generated video on Facebook showing alleged students opposing the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In his Facebook post, Dela Rosa captioned the video: “Mabuti pa ang mga bata nakakaintindi sa mga pangyayari. Makinig kayo mga yellow at mga komunista!”
Mayor Duterte also posted: “And the liberals say they have Gen Z support. Come on.”
Castro reiterated that while a public apology may not be necessary, officials must take responsibility for the consequences of sharing misleading or false content online.
“Ba’t ngayon na naipakalat na? Paano na po yung ibang naniwala sa kanila? Considering na binoto sila ng taumbayan. So ngayon na ginawa po nila at wala tayong magagawa doon, dapat lamang po nilang i-acknowledge na ang ipinasa nila na video ay hindi totoo at hindi tunay,” Castro added.
Castro warned of the growing threat of AI-generated disinformation, saying such videos while appearing credible, can mislead the public and damage democratic processes.
When asked whether sharing AI-generated content can be penalized, Castro said this depends on the circumstances and the level of involvement of those who shared or commented on it.
“Depende po sa sitwasyon. Kung sila man ay nag-comment dito, mayroong kaakibat itong penalty. Depende po sa kanilang partisipasyon,” she explained.
On the possibility of legal repercussions such as libel or slander, Castro said it is on a case-by-case basis.
“Can be. Pero sabi nga po natin, alamin po natin ang punot-dulo nito. Mahirap pong magsalita agad na may liability ang isang tao. Ang sinasabi lamang po natin, dapat sila maging responsable sa bawat kilos nila,” she emphasized.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is reportedly monitoring the spread of similar AI-generated content and is coordinating efforts to combat fake news.
Castro thanked the public for helping detect disinformation and urged continued vigilance.
As of this writing, the video has received almost 120,000 reactions, 7.8 million views, over 20,000 comments, and nearly 70,000 shares on Facebook.
On the other hand, VP Sara Duterte said she sees no problem with individuals sharing AI-generated videos online, as long as they are not used for commercial gain.
“Wala namang problema siguro sa pag-share ng AI video in support of sa akin. Basta hindi ginagawa ng negosyo,” Duterte said.
“If I were a social media account owner and I created an AI video to support a certain personality, there’s no issue with that because I’m not making money from it. I’m not selling my content as a product to the public,” she added.
While the Palace has urged caution and responsibility among public officials, Duterte's remarks suggest a more lenient view on the use of AI tools for personal expression or support—so long as no profit is involved.
