NBI, PNP findings show ‘polvoron’ video fake

MANILA, Philippines — The people behind a viral video supposedly showing President Marcos using illegal drugs will face criminal charges after forensic examination conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) concluded the person in the video is not the Chief Executive.

Officials of the two law enforcement agencies presented their findings at a joint news briefing at the NBI office in Quezon City that the person on the video allegedly sniffing what appears to be cocaine is not Marcos.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said they have identified several personalities whom they believe were behind the creation and proliferation of the so-called “polvoron” video.

He said they were still gathering evidence so the case to be filed would be air-tight.

The video was posted on Monday by Claire Contreras, also known as Maharlika and a supporter of former president Rodrigo Duterte. It was also shown at a gathering of Filipinos supposedly from Los Angeles, California.

Some former government officials under the Duterte administration also shared the video clip on their social media accounts, which included captions making fun of President Marcos.

NBI cybercrime division chief Jeremy Lotoc said that based on their examination, the person in the video is not Marcos.

Using a video spectral comparator, NBI agents showed the differences in the facial features between Marcos and the unnamed individual in the video.

Brig. Gen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga, Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) director, said they had the same findings after an artificial intelligence detection tool revealed significant discrepancies in the facial features of Marcos and the person in the video, such as the size of the ears, shape of the eyes and nose and sideburns.

Citing their analysis, Cariaga said the video is fake and was created using artificial intelligence (AI).

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said the intention of the people behind what he described as a fabricated and malicious video is to put Marcos in a negative light hours before his State of the Nation Address.

“With due process, we will see to it that the persons responsible will be held accountable for this malicious and dastardly act,” Andres said.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos echoed Andres’ statement, saying they will make sure the people responsible for the video are charged in court.

Someone has to answer for this, Abalos said.