Amid the ongoing investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation into allegations by 18 “former Marines” that they delivered suitcases of cash to top government officials, multiple Facebook users and pages are circulating a video of Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Alyssa Michaela “Mica” Gonzales where she supposedly admitted receiving such luggage. This is fake.
In a March 5 statement, Gonzales dismissed the footage as “deepfake.”
First posted by an FB page on March 4, the Pampanga solon can be heard in the 16-second clip saying:
“About sa maleta issue ‘no, sige sasagutin ko ‘yan para matapos na. Binigay naman ‘yun eh, hindi naman natin hiningi ‘yun. Hindi lang po tayo ‘yung tumanggap ng maleta ‘no, so huwag po sanang sa akin lang ibaling ‘yung atensyon.
(About the suitcase issue, I’ll answer that so it can be settled. It was given to me, I didn’t ask for it. I wasn’t the only one who got a suitcase, so I hope attention isn’t directed at me only).”
One user republished the video with the superimposed text:
“Totoong tumangap (sic) ng maleta per kaya hnd (sic) alegasiyon
Lumabas na din ang katotohanan eh umamin na din c congresswoman mica gonzales
(It’s true that she received a suitcase, that’s why it’s not an allegation. The truth has come out, Congresswoman Mica Gonzales has finally admitted it.)”
At least six other FB users and pages have republished the alleged confession video by Gonzales from March 5 to 7, with one user posting a graphic with the same claim. One page had a hashtag on its post to indicate it is “satire.”
A tipline user sent a link to the fake video to the VERA Files Misinformation Tip Line for verification.
Results from three artificial intelligence detection tools reveal that the lawmaker’s ‘maleta’ admission video is likely AI-generated.
A quick check of past reels uploaded by Gonzales on her official FB page show that the original video used in the viral AI-made clip was a video uploaded on Oct. 11, 2025 where she discussed a medical mission initiative.
In the original video, the background is the same building throughout the footage, indicating the car Gonzales was riding was not moving, unlike in the fabricated clip. There is also an abrupt and unnatural cut between Gonzales’ introduction and the part of her alleged confession.
In a statement reported by three radio stations on March 5, Gonzales described the video as “a complete fabrication,” adding “it is 100% a deepfake.”
On March 7, the lawmaker also published a video debunking the claim, referencing House Bill 7903 or the “Deepfake Accountability and Transparency Act” she filed in Congress.
The bogus clip emerged on March 4 when NBI Director Melvin Matibag said that the agency is investigating the credibility of the 18 alleged former Marines and the veracity of their claims about delivering P805 billion flood control “kickbacks” in suitcases and paper bags to several former and current public officials.
On March 6, Matibag said the NBI issued subpoenas to the 18 men, directing them to appear before the agency on March 11. Other personalities subpoenaed include former Anakalusugan party-list representative Mike Defensor, who admitted helping the “ex-Marines,” their counsel, Atty. Levito Baligod, and the notary public who signed the group’s affidavit.
Published by various FB users and pages, including Pedro n Juan (created Oct. 9, 2024), at least eight reels carrying the AI-generated video have collectively amassed 41,011 reactions; 15,869 comments; 22,159 shares; and over 4.4 million views as of writing.
