The arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March 2025 has sparked a surge in AI-generated disinformation, deepening the political rift between supporters of Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Following Duterte’s detention on murder charges tied to his war on drugs, his supporters have intensified digital smear campaigns targeting opponents, including victims’ families and activists.
Sheerah Escuerdo, who lost her brother Ephraim to the drug war, faced harassment after an AI-generated video falsely depicted him as alive, accusing her of lying.
The video, shared by a pro-Duterte influencer, garnered thousands of views, amplifying false narratives and prompting daily hate messages against Escuerdo.
Rise Up, a group representing drug war victims, and the National Union of People’s Lawyers have called for government investigations into the rising online harassment.
Duterte’s arrest, amid a feud with Marcos Jr. over policy differences, has fueled disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting the ICC and portraying the Duterte family as victims.
Both political camps have employed AI to manipulate narratives, with Duterte supporters spreading false claims, such as an ICC-approved interim release that was actually denied.
A June 2025 Reuters Digital News report highlighted that nearly 70% of Filipinos are increasingly concerned about disinformation, reflecting widespread public unease.
Fact-checking coalition Tsek.ph reported that posts about Duterte’s arrest accounted for nearly a quarter of 127 curated articles, outnumbering those about Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment.
The use of AI in disinformation has grown, with a Manila-based firm, Comm&Sense, using AI to generate pro-Marcos and anti-Duterte content across social media platforms.
Tsek.ph noted that nearly a third of 35 unique altered claims from February to May 2025 likely involved deepfake technology, distorting reality for political gain.
Experts like Carljoe Javier emphasize that the issue lies in human behavior and unethical AI use, amplifying disinformation through sophisticated public relations strategies.
Despite a government task force launched last year to combat disinformation, legislative efforts to regulate AI remain stalled, raising doubts about leaders’ commitment to ethical policies.
Public support for the Dutertes has waned, with 51% favoring Rodrigo’s trial and 66% supporting Sara’s impeachment, signaling a shift in sentiment as the May 2025 mid-term elections approach.