FACT CHECK: Video of Tulfos admitting flood control payoff is AI-generated - Rappler

On June 3, 2026, a Facebook page titled Duterte Supporters published a video falsely depicting Senators Erwin and Raffy Tulfo discussing a suitcase containing a cash payoff. The fabricated footage, which amassed over 464,000 views and 8,640 shares, aimed to link the brothers to a corruption scheme involving flood control projects. The video further featured deepfake audio of President Marcos and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla discussing the distribution of payoffs and the targeting of political rivals.

What happened

The video utilized advanced artificial intelligence to synthesize the voices and likenesses of high-ranking government officials. An analysis conducted with DeCopy AI image analysis software indicated a 98% probability that the content was generated by artificial intelligence. The timing of the release coincided with Erwin Tulfo’s appointment as the new chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Both senators immediately debunked the claims, describing the video as a malicious demolition job. Raffy Tulfo clarified that he personally spoke with his brother, who confirmed the allegations were entirely false. Fact-checking efforts confirmed that there are no official reports from the Senate or the Ombudsman linking either senator to the alleged flood control scheme. Furthermore, Erwin Tulfo provided evidence that he did not receive any flood control projects between 2022 and 2026, rendering the claim of kickbacks logically impossible. The video serves as a prominent example of how synthetic media is being leveraged to manipulate public perception during periods of political volatility.