FALSE. A Facebook post claims that a statue of former president Rodrigo Duterte was constructed using recycled materials, showing a photo of the supposed statue.
FACT: The photo is AI-generated, not a real statue. No reports, official announcements, or evidence support the existence of a Duterte statue made from recycled materials.
The image was shared by the page “Duterte News Info” and other pro-Duterte accounts without disclosing its artificial origin.
An AI detection tool flagged the image with a 95% probability of being generated by models like Google’s Imagen, confirming it as synthetic content.
Analysts note that the image echoes a March 2025 speech where Duterte joked about building a monument.
While some AI artworks are shared with proper disclaimers, this one lacked any, misleading supporters into believing the statue exists.
Experts warn that the unchecked use of AI-generated visuals in political content fuels disinformation. Misleading images can distort public perception, especially when used to promote false narratives or unverified achievements.
