House leaders: Probe deepfake President Marcos audio

MANILA, Philippines — Congress resumes session today with House leaders seeking an investigation into a deepfake video showing President Marcos allegedly issuing an order to soldiers to act against a foreign country.

Allies of the Chief Executive want this issue to be included in the chamber’s order of business, where a committee hearing may be conducted.

“This matter involves national security and the malicious dissemination of fabricated information,” Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said. “Agencies like the DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) and its Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center should promptly conduct an inquiry.”

“We should not allow this to happen again. We should not tolerate criminally minded persons to wreak havoc on our national security and to give our people fake information,” the congressman from Pampanga’s third district said.

He added that the person or persons responsible for the deepfake should be prosecuted.

Gonzalez’s colleague, House Deputy Speaker David Suarez, also shared his view, suggesting that investigating agencies should give the House a periodic report on the progress of their investigations.

Suarez said the agencies could tap private sector experts in their probe. “It should not be difficult for them to identify the origin of the deepfake and those behind it. I suspect this bogus material originated from somewhere in the south of the country,” the Quezon congressman said.

He urged the recipients of the President’s directive not to listen to impostors and fabricators. “I trust that they will heed instructions issued only through official lines of communication and from the chain of command. I believe in the professionalism and patriotism of our soldiers.” he said.