Deep fake
HOUSE Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Chair Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur warned on Friday that deepfakes, trolls and fake news could proliferate online again as the House of Representatives moves forward with impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
Adiong said he had already expected disinformation efforts to surface as public attention intensifies the proceedings.
“Ako ine-xpect ko na ’yan. In fact ako ay binibiro ng mga kasamahan ko, sabi ko sige na lang at least nakakatulong din tayo dun sa mga walang trabaho kasi nabibigyan sila ng pera para maging trolls,” Adiong responded to a reporter’s question during an ambush interview.
The House Committee on Justice has begun tackling the impeachment complaints against Duterte after finding them sufficient in form and substance, setting the stage for the next phases of the process.
Adiong said the spread of manipulated content and false narratives online has become part of the current political landscape, but stressed that the public must remain vigilant in evaluating what they see on social media.
“Ine-expect ko na ’yan kasi ganyan talaga ang kalakaran ngayon. Pero ang atin lang, tayo din sa publiko kailangan maging discerning tayo, maging mas mapanuri, maging mas maingat at mas masusi ang ating pag-appreciate sa ating mga nakikita online kasi karamihan po diyan ay hindi tama at hindi totoo,” he said.
The House leader also noted that he was surprised by the level of support for the proceedings at the committee level, where the panel recorded 54 votes.
“Let’s see, let’s see. But again I was surprised in the committee level kasi fifty-four ‘yung boto. I was really surprised,” Adiong said.
“Let’s see. Pero it’s a good indication. It’s good, and it’s a positive indication that the required number might possibly be within reach,” he added.
The House must have one-third of its members support the impeachment process before it can be sent to the Senate for trial.
