MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang reminded public officials to be extra cautious in sharing information online after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and reportedly Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte posted an AI-generated video about the supposed impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the spread of false information becomes more alarming when it originates from high-ranking government officials.

“Mas nakakabahala kung mismo sa matataas na opisyal nanggagaling ang ganitong uri ng impormasyon,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.

“Ang pagsi-share ng mga katulad na ganiyan, muli, disinformation, fake news, hindi po sana nanggagaling sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan,” she said.

The AI-generated video, which has circulated widely on social media, falsely claimed that Vice President Duterte was facing impeachment—prompting concern from media groups, netizens, and disinformation watchdogs. While the Palace did not name the officials involved, Castro’s remarks came shortly after reports confirmed the video had been shared by Dela Rosa and Baste Duterte.

Castro acknowledged that while the government is actively working to curb the spread of fake news, the efforts must be collective, especially as advanced technologies like AI make it harder to distinguish fact from fabrication.

She also cautioned against considering the topic of such videos as legitimate just because they reflect ongoing public conversations. “Kung ito ay galing sa isang fake news or AI-generated, so hindi tayo puwedeng magsabi na ito ay lehitimo or ilehitimo ang isyu,” Castro said.

When asked if public officials should issue an apology after spreading false information, Castro said what’s more important is for them to acknowledge the error—especially given their influence and the trust placed in them by the public.

“Hindi kinakailangang mag-apologize kung una pa lang tama ang inyong ginawa,” she said. “But ngayon na naipakalat na… dapat lamang po nilang i-acknowledge na ang ipinasa nila na video ay hindi totoo at hindi tunay.”

Castro underscored that public officials must act responsibly, noting that their words and actions carry weight among citizens. “Responsibilidad nila ito. Lider sila, at bawat salita nila ay totoo sa pandinig ng taumbayan,” she added.

She also said legal consequences may apply depending on the extent of involvement. If officials not only shared but also commented in a way that amplified disinformation, possible penalties could be considered.

“Depende po sa sitwasyon,” Castro said. “Hindi lang naman ito shineyr kung hindi nagbigay pa ng opinyon, so tingnan na lang po natin ang kabuuan.”

As deepfake and AI-altered content becomes more sophisticated, Malacañang reiterated the need for vigilance—most especially from those in positions of power.