By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Just like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together, House leaders on Sunday (28 April 2024) aired suspicion that those behind the deepfake audio that mimicked the voice of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordering the use of military force against China could have “originated somewhere in the south of the country.”
It can be recalled that in a supposed prayer rally in Tagum City last April 14, former Speaker and now Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez, a close ally of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw support from their commander-in-chief Marcos Jr. ostensibly to prevent the escalating tension between China and the Philippines over the hotly contested West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“This bogus material (Deepfake audio may have) originated somewhere in the south of the country,” Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez of Quezon province said, without providing evidence or details.
In a statement, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga pointed out that the spread of the deepfake audio, which he called a “malicious dissemination of fabricated information,” was a national security concern.
Gonzales called on the Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT) and its Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to investigate and that people behind the deepfake audio should be prosecuted.
For his part, Suarez said the above agencies should update the House of Representatives on the progress of their investigation into the audio and tap the private sector if necessary.
(el Amigo/MNM)
