THE Senate impeachment court clarified on Tuesday that photos circulating on social media purporting to show witness Lemuel Ortonio wearing an earpiece during his testimony were fabricated using artificial intelligence.
Senate President and Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero made the announcement at the opening of the 20th day of the impeachment trial, dismissing the images as fake.
“The photos circulating that supposedly show Mr. Ortonio without an earpiece are not true. Those are AI-generated,” Escudero stated, explaining that what appeared in the photos was actually an ear piercing in the helix fold of Ortonio’s ear — not an electronic device.
The clarification came after Ortonio, the Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff, appeared last week as a hostile witness regarding the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The misleading images had spread widely online, raising unfounded claims that Ortonio was receiving coaching or external prompts while testifying. Escudero’s correction sought to set the record straight and emphasize that the witness was not equipped with any prohibited communication device.
Following the incident, Escudero issued a strict reminder to all parties and witnesses that testimony must come solely from personal knowledge, free from coaching or outside influence. He explicitly banned witnesses from possessing or using earpieces, headsets, mobile phones, smartwatches, or any device capable of transmitting or receiving information while on the stand.
The court also directed the clerk to inform every witness of the rules in advance, secure all prohibited devices before they are sworn in, and obtain formal confirmation that they understand and will comply with the directive. Medical accessibility devices, however, may be allowed upon prior approval by the court.
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