VP Sara is ‘fake news queen’ – ACT Teachers

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte takes the crown as “fake news queen” for persistently spreading lies and defending artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, according to ACT Teachers party-list.

In a joint statement yesterday, House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. France Castro and ACT Teachers party-list Representative-elect Antonio Tinio blasted Duterte for claiming that Castro is a relative of Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

“This is a clear fake news and as the second highest official of the land, this is an embarrassment,” the statement read.

“This is not just a harmless slip-up. VP Sara Duterte has repeatedly shown a disturbing pattern of inventing stories and disseminating disinformation both on- and off-camera. She is the reigning Fake News Queen of the Philippines,” they added.

The lawmakers also condemned Duterte for saying there is no harm in AI-generated content showing support for her, as long as it is not for profit.

“This is a dangerous and irresponsible statement from the Vice President. She is effectively legitimizing the use of fake news and disinformation in public discourse,” Castro and Tinio warned.

“If VP Duterte can so easily lie about something as basic as family relations and promote the spread of AI-generated disinformation, the public should be doubly wary of whatever explanations she gives to justify her questionable use of public funds. She will say anything just to escape accountability,” they stressed.

Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel slammed Sen. Ronald dela Rosa for his inability to distinguish genuine video from an AI-generated one.

“Is this a senator? The children are better because they understand that there are people who are creating and spreading AI-generated videos to deceive the people,” he said.

“If he does not know how to evaluate a Facebook video, what more when it is the evidence in the case? He should inhibit as a senator-judge,” Manuel added, referring to Duterte’s impeachment trial.