Hontiveros on circulating photos with Alice Guo: It's fake

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday warned the public against edited photos circulating online, which supposedly shows that dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is her friend.

In a social media post, Hontiveros said the photos were fake. The senator then called on social media platforms to address the use of AI content.

''Wala akong kaibigan na pekeng Pil. ???? Mag-ingat po sa mga edited photos online na magkasama kami diumano at magkaibigan daw kami. THIS IS FAKE,'' Hontiveros said.

(I don't have a friend who is a fake Filipino. Let us be cautious on edited photos online showing that we are together and that we are friends. This is fake.)

''Also calling on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, & Tiktok to moderate AI content!'' she added.

Meanwhile, netizen Ryan Lingo took down his post and apologized to Hontiveros for his mistake.

''I want to apologize for sharing AI photos with you, A. Guo. I already took down my tweet and promised to do my due diligence when it comes to posting on my X account,'' Lingo said.

Guo has been linked to an illegal POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac raided by local authorities. In June, the Department of the Interior and Local Government filed graft charges against her in this regard.

Her identity and citizenship were also questioned during Senate hearings on the illegal POGOs.

Guo’s name was listed on the immigration lookout bulletin following the investigation into her true identity and her link to illegal activities of a POGO in Bamban.

It was Hontiveros who initially disclosed that the dismissed local official was able to leave the country in July. The senator will lead the chamber's investigation into Guo's escape.

Philippine authorities said Guo is still in Indonesia and has not attempted to leave the country. — RSJ/AOL, GMA Integrated News