A video shared on Facebook claims to show international boxing champ and former senator Manny Pacquiao supposedly promoting an online gambling app. This is fake and was likely manipulated using artificial intelligence.
On Oct. 7, a Facebook page shared a 78-second video showing Pacquiao wearing a business suit as he allegedly warns the public against using fake casino slot games promoted by some social media influencers. The video then endorsed the gambling application AAAPH, with Pacquiao supposedly saying:
“Para po sa mga gustong subukan ang online games para makatulong sa pang araw-araw na gastos, inirerekomenda ko po ang AAAPH, isang licensed at ligtas na online slot platform. Bakit ito and best choice? Malalaking bonus at garantisadong withdrawal, diretso sa Gcash ang payout, may golden hours recommendation para mas mataas ang chance manalo. Paalala lang po maging responsabale sa paglalaro. Madaling kumita ng 10,000 sa isang araw pero ‘wag pong maging sakim. Magregister na ngayon para makuha ang welcome bonus
(For those who want to try online games to help with day to day expenses, I recommend AAAPH, a licensed and safe online slot platform. Why is this the best choice? Big bonuses and guaranteed withdrawals, payouts directly to Gcash, there is golden hours recommendation for higher chances of winning. Just a reminder, be responsible in playing. It is easy to win 10,000 in one day but don’t be greedy. Register now to get a welcome bonus).”
A reverse image search reveals that the video was taken from an old clip uploaded on Pacquiao’s official YouTube channel on March 23, 2020, in which the former senator offered a prayer message to the public in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tell-tale signs suggest that this original video was likely manipulated using AI. These include distorted and missing fingers, blurry mouth movements, and a right ear that seems unnaturally attached and occasionally fails to move in sync with the head. Additionally, the supposed photo of the game’s license and some of the text in the video are unreadable.
Pacquiao also mispronounced common Filipino words like “responsable” and “paglalaro.”
VERA Files tapped the Deepfake Analysis Unit (DAU), part of the India-based Misinformation Combat Alliance, to verify if the video was manipulated using AI.
DAU ran the video through several audio and video AI-detection tools. Results from Aurigin, a Swiss-based audio deepfake detection engine, revealed that the audio was 100% AI-generated. Findings from AI Voice Detector Hiya Audio Intelligence indicated that the voice “seems likely generated or modified by AI.” Meanwhile, ElevenLabs’ classifier showed that the audio was not created using ElevenLabs nor manipulated with AI.
Although the tools did not detect AI in the video track, DAU noted several visual anomalies suggesting manipulation. The face showed longitudinal striations, particularly around the mouth, an indicator of AI tampering. DAU also pointed out the possibility of face swapping, where Pacquiao’s face may have been superimposed onto another person’s body and adjusted to match the audio. The teeth, appearing as a solid white bar instead of distinct individual ones, were also cited as a sign of AI alteration along with the bloated appearance of fingers.
Records from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation revealed that the game AAAPH is not registered as an authorized online gaming website, contrary to the claim of the fake video.
Posted by FB page JILIF-Game (created Oct. 7, 2025), the fake promotion has so far garnered 82,000 views, 311 reactions and 10 comments.
