A Facebook post claims that Sen. Ronald “Bato Dela Rosa is in New York. This is fake and made using artificial intelligence.
The post published on May 24, which shows a photo of Dela Rosa with a certain Manoy Fonz, has this caption:
“SEN.BATO NASA NEW YORK NA?
On our way to VP Sara birthday cruise party”
It also has a lengthy text written like a news update that says in part:
“Umani ng matinding usapan online ang mga kumakalat na larawan ni Senador Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa sa New York habang patuloy pa ring mainit ang usapin kaugnay ng ICC at mga alegasyon laban sa kanya sa Pilipinas
“Photos of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in New York circulating online have sparked intense discussions, as the issue involving the ICC and allegations against him continue to heat up in the Philippines).”
Results from AI-detection tools Hive Moderation and Sight Engine show a 99% likelihood that the image is AI-generated.
A closer look at the clip also reveals details that look out of place, such as the interior of the vehicle they were in. It looks like the background was mirrored and Dela Rosa’s face was just added to the frame.
The posts surfaced after the International Criminal Court unsealed the November 2025 warrant of arrest for Dela Rosa on May 11, when the senator surfaced at the Senate after six months in hiding and cast a vote for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president. But on May 14, Dela Rosa slipped out of the Senate hours after a shooting incident within the Senate premises, as the Senate security forces prevented the National Bureau of Investigation from enforcing the warrant.
As of writing, Dela Rosa’s whereabouts remain unknown.
The post published by the Facebook page The Politics News TV with 59,000 followers has garnered 1,584 reactions, 188 comments, and 47 shares.
