Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa found himself in hot water over the weekend after sharing an AI-generated video on social media that featured two “students” expressing opposition to the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Despite the video bearing the hashtag #AI, Dela Rosa praised the content, saying, “Mabuti pa ang mga bata, nakakaintindi sa mga pangyayari. Makinig kayo, mga yellow at mga komunista!”
Netizens were quick to criticize the senator for sharing what was clearly an artificial video, with many disappointed that a government official of his stature would promote disinformation. One commenter wrote, “Senator kayo, dapat nagfa-fact-check muna. Maraming Pilipino ang naniniwala sa inyo kaya ‘wag basta-basta mag-post ng hindi totoo.”
AI VIDEO
Na-flag ng Facebook ang ibinahaging AI-generated video ni Sen. Bato dela Rosa na naglalaman ng “false information.”
Makikita sa video ang mga estudyanteng tumututol umano sa impeachment ni Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Nakalagay sa baba ng video ang watermark ng “Veo,” ang… pic.twitter.com/lkSQOOXWia
— News5 (@News5PH) June 16, 2025
In response, Dela Rosa doubled down on his support for the video’s message. “I don’t care if this post is AI generated or Manobo generated because I am not after the messenger, I am after the message,” he said. “Don’t shoot the messenger without reading the message that he delivers.”
He also lashed out at his critics, calling them “yellow and communist trolls,” and sarcastically asked his supporters to “help by laughing.”
Dear Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa,
Para matuto ka since wala ka pa ata alam sa fake AI videos, eto ang mga signs na gawa ng AI yung video na shinare mo.
Tingnan mo yung mga detalye:
– yung kotse o pedicab na sosyal na walang ganyan sa Philippine schools or University belt… pic.twitter.com/XHyNvQFYxT— Jesus Falcis (@jesusfalcis) June 15, 2025
This AI-GENERATED propaganda video has more than 93,000 likes on Facebook and is getting shared like wildfire by official pages of gov’t officials like Bato Dela Rosa.
Kailangan na NGAYON ng batas para sa pagreregulate sa generative AI lalo na’t ginagamit na ito sa pulitika!!!! pic.twitter.com/P2S9Mt9zFr
— militant (@alasiye7e) June 15, 2025
BATO DELA ROSA promoting DISINFORMATION pic.twitter.com/uuPzMbtT7j
— HAPPY PEPE (@succubus_20) June 15, 2025
SENATOR FOOLED BY AN AI VIDEO?
GUIDED BY IGNORANCE NOT BY THE HOLY GHOST. TSK
This is beyond embarrassing- it’s dangerous.
Senator Bato dela Rosa, an elected official, just shared what appears to be an AI-generated propaganda video. No verification. No discernment. Just blind… pic.twitter.com/7zTt2YjJ1n
— Thirty One Million (@31milmovement) June 15, 2025
Malacañang was not amused. Palace Press Undersecretary Claire Castro condemned Dela Rosa’s post, calling it an irresponsible act from someone in public office. “Ang pagshe-share ng katulad ng ganiyan—muli, disinformation, fake news—hindi po sana nanggagaling sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan,” Castro said during a briefing on June 16. “Nakakaduda, mas nakakawala ng tiwala kung mismo sa matataas na opisyal nanggagaling ang disinformation.”
Castro also thanked vigilant citizens who were quick to call out the post and correct the misleading content.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte weighed in, saying she saw no issue with people creating AI content to show support. “Walang problema doon kasi hindi ko naman siya ginagawang negosyo, hindi ko naman siya binebenta sa mga tao,” she said during her own press briefing.