Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s use of an AI-generated video to falsely claim that Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment is destabilizing the Philippines exposes the core of her political strategy: an AI-manufactured agenda designed to manipulate public perception and consolidate power.
The video, depicting fabricated students — flagged and admitted as fake, asserted that the impeachment sows division, aligning with Duterte’s carefully curated social media persona to deflect accountability and undermine the administration of PBBM.
Senator Bato’s video, captioned “Mabuti pa ang mga bata nakakaintindi sa mga pangyayari. Makinig kayo mga yellow at mga komunista!”, framed Sara as the victim of a politically motivated impeachment that is threatening national unity.
By falsely portraying the poor as her defenders, it exploits their image to bolster her legitimacy.
Dela Rosa’s defense — “Sabi ko kung AI man ‘yan, may punto ang gumawa”— and Sara’s dismissal of concerns about AI content unless for profit — reveal a blatant disregard for the truth.
Fiction, as they demonstrate, is far easier to manufacture than truth, which requires rigorous research and critical thinking. This AI-driven agenda seeks to shape public sentiment by prioritizing emotional manipulation over facts.
Since joining TikTok in December 2023, Duterte has crafted a relatable persona, blending personal anecdotes with her vice presidential duties. A content analysis of her TikTok videos highlights her use of “political entertainment” to engage younger audiences with humor and accessibility.
Yet, this manufactured charm serves as a distraction from serious allegations, including the misuse of confidential funds and her refusal to address congressional probes. Her dismissive “shimenet” retort and violent rhetoric — threatening to “decapitate” Marcos — clash with her curated image, revealing an AI-supported strategy to mask incompetence and corruption with spectacle.
This agenda extends to the Hakbang ng Maisug, a pro-Duterte group linked to deepfake attacks on PBBM led by Harry Roque. Maisug’s deepfakes, like the “polvoron video” alleging PBBM’s drug use, aim to erode his credibility while framing Duterte as a champion of the masses.
These efforts, amplified by fake accounts — 37 percent of Duterte-related X profiles in 2025 were fake, per Reuters — expose a coordinated campaign leveraging AI to craft a narrative of Duterte as an embattled yet indispensable leader. Only this week, Roque has been asserting on social media that Sara Duterte is the leader the country needs in this time of crisis brought about by the Israel-Iran conflict.
Sara Duterte’s AI-manufactured fiction keeps her relevant but destroys trust in institutions and governance; it also exploits the poor and totally disregards accountability in public service. The poor, falsely depicted as her supporters in the AI-generated videos, deserve truth, not manipulation. This is why the Sara Duterte social media game is depraved. It does not hesitate to spread lies and conveniently use the poor, especially when it serves her power-hungry agenda.
The orchestrated support from political allies, including pro-Duterte networks like OPTIC Politics, mirrors her father’s 2016 campaign, which relied on fake accounts and paid influencers to shape public opinion.
While Duterte’s TikTok presence captivates her base, its reliance on AI-driven disinformation cannot indefinitely conceal her shortcomings. Her inflammatory rhetoric and questionable financial dealings remain under scrutiny, and the gap between her manufactured agenda and political reality widens.
Her attempts to emulate her father’s confrontational style are outdated and unoriginal. In a nation growing skeptical of abusive political dynasties, Duterte’s AI-fueled narrative may delay accountability but cannot sustain her 2028 ambitions.
Filipinos deserve leaders who prioritize governance and truth over fabricated spectacles. The poor, whose voices are hijacked in these AI-generated narratives, deserve better than to be pawns in a power grab.