Government Probes Involvement of Foreign Elements in Deepfake Video of President Marcos Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — The government is currently investigating the possibility of foreign elements being behind the viral deepfake video of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordering military action against another country, as stated by a Palace official on Thursday.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has not specified the video in question, but the now-deleted YouTube channel Dapat Balita posted a video that simulated Marcos ordering an attack on China.
PCO Assistant Secretary Wheng Hidalgo mentioned that government agencies are collaborating to identify the individuals or group responsible for creating the video.
Hidalgo stated, “The PCO is coordinating with the Department of Information Technology (DICT) and the National Security Council (NSC) for the investigation and reaching out to Facebook, Google, and all social media platforms to determine the originators of this video. It is possible that this was not just a domestic issue, but could involve foreign intruders or hackers from other countries.”
She also highlighted the concerning timing of the deepfake video, which coincided with the Balikatan exercises.
Hidalgo urged the public to exercise caution with the information they consume, particularly stressing the importance of verifying news through the PCO website, as those unfamiliar with Marcos’ voice could mistake the deepfake as authentic.
