Abalos orders PNP to probe fake Marcos video

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Monday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the viral video that showed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allegedly using drugs, which he said was fake and malicious.

“I’m asking our chief PNP, General Marbil, together with General Baccay and, of course, General Cariaga to immediately create a task force to probe this issue. Talagang imbestigahan nila maigi ito,” Abalos said in a media briefing.

He also directed the PNP to coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Asked what Marcos was doing in the video, Abalos answered, “Ito ay isang video na nilabas that allegedly may isang tao na sumisinghot siya ng allegedly, ng isang droga, no. Allegedly. So there are all allegedly.”

(This is a video where an individual was allegedly taking drugs. Allegedly. These are all allegedly.)

The secretary presented a side-by-side picture of Marcos’ earlobe from another picture and the earlobe of the alleged Marcos in the video.

“‘Yung nasa baba ay 'yung larawan nu'ng allegedly ating pangulo daw. Tignan niyo ang tenga. Tignan niyo maigi ang tenga dito. Pagmasdan niyo. ‘Yung larawan ng ating Pangulo sa kaliwa, 'yung earlobe na tinatawag. Tignan niyo ‘yung nasa kanan,” he said.

(The one below is the picture of our president allegedly. Look at his ear. Look closely at his ear. Observe it. The picture of the president on the left, at the earlobe. Then look at the right.)

“Bakit ko sinasabi ito, mga kasama? Dahil napakaraming kumalat sa social media na mga AI na mga peke, sari-sari naghahalo sa mga panahon ngayon. Maging mapanuri tayo. 'Wag tayo basta bastang maniniwala dito,” he added.

(Why am I saying this? Because today there are numerous AI content circulating in social media that are fake. We should be observant. Let us not immediately believe such things.)

Abalos stressed that it was not Marcos in the video.

“Tignan niyo 'yung tenga and judge for yourself. Kayo na po ang sumagot. Ako alam ko ang sagot. Hindi po siya 'yan. I’ll leave it at that,” he said.

(Look at the ear and judge for yourself. You be the one to conclude. I know the answer. It is not him. I'll leave it at that.)

Abalos said that the release of the video was also “malicious” as it was timed with Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

He said he has yet to talk to the president.

Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense has urged concerned United States authorities to probe and bring to justice the perpetrators behind the “disgusting act."

“The obviously fake video being circulated emanating from a MAISUG gathering in Los Angeles is again a maliciously crude attempt to destabilize the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. They will not succeed!” the DND said.

In a separate statement, Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said the production and dissemination of false information is illegal under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code.

“The Department of Justice is committed to upholding the law and will take all necessary actions to identify and prosecute those responsible for this deceitful act,” Clavano said.

Asked if the individuals behind the video could be held accountable if it originated abroad, Clavano said authorities will “cross the bridge” when they get there.

“The timing of the release of this fake video, occurring just before the President's State of the Nation Address, unmistakably indicates an intent to undermine the credibility of the President and the critical speech he is set to deliver,” Clavano said.

“This malicious act erodes public trust and poses a threat to public order by spreading misinformation,” he added. —KG/VBL, GMA Integrated News