A Facebook page posted a video warning of a nationwide brownout starting April 20 that will extend to three months as a result of the country’s oil supply lasting only until April 15. This is fake; the video was generated using artificial intelligence.
Published on March 14, the 16-second clip features two female anchors supposedly delivering a news report saying:
“Hanggang April 15 na lang ang supply ng gasolina, langis, at krudo sa Pilipinas kaya magkakaroon ng malawakang brownout. Magsisimula sa April 20 na tatagal hanggang tatlong buwan ang brownout. Nasa post ang listahan ng lugar na mauunang mag-brownout.
(The supply of gasoline, oil, and crude in the Philippines will last only until April 15 so there will be widespread brownouts. These will start on April 20 and will last up to three months. The post contains a list of areas that will have brownouts first).”
The same reel was reposted by the publisher a minute later, this time with the caption:
“GRABE 3 MONTHS BROWNOUT? (Seriously, 3 months brownout?).”
A slightly different version of the clip was posted twice the next day, also a minute apart, with similar content but carrying additional captions:
“APRIL 15 NALANG ANG SUPPLY SA BANSA (Country’s [oil] supply only until April 15)”
“HANGGANG 3 MONTHS PA NAMAN TO KAWAWA TAYO (This will be for 3 months, we are doomed).”
All four posts include a caption with a link supposedly listing areas to be affected by brownouts. The link directs netizens to a product page in an online shopping site, a common marketing ploy to boost engagement and promote item listings online.
No official announcements have been made by the Department of Energy or any electric cooperative in the Philippines regarding a nationwide brownout.
President Ferdinand Marcos on March 3 assured the public that the country has sufficient oil supply that can last for approximately 50 to 60 days amid the continuing tensions in major oil-producing states in the Middle East.
A closer look at the clip reveals red flags that suggest it was likely created using artificial intelligence. The red flags include:
- Same anchor but with different hair styles
- Mouth movements blurred by pixels
- The word “kandila” is delivered with an unnatural cadence, strongly suggesting it was rendered by an AI voice engine rather than spoken by a real person.
- Unusual movement of anchor’s mouth
VERA Files Fact Check ran the clip and its screenshots through AI-detection tools. Results from Hive Moderation reveal there is a possibility that it has AI-generated or deepfake content.
The fake posts appeared after the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission warned of more big-time fuel price increases and a potential power rate hike between P2 to P4 per kWh in April, both consequences of the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war.
As of writing, the fake posts published by Ph News Today (created March 13) collectively garnered 66,200 reactions; 9,722 comments; and 68,200 shares.
