Ahead of the resumption of the Senate probe into the flood control controversy on June 8, multiple users claim that fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co appeared in a new video message. This is fake and made using artificial intelligence.
In the first three days of the month, at least five Facebook users uploaded copies of the one-minute and 55-second clip. It shows Co holding a document and delivering a statement. Part of the message states:
“Kumusta na kayong lahat? Nagpasya akong magpakita ngayon dahil hindi ko na matiis ang mga balitang aking nakikita ang mga pagdakip at panggigipit umano sa mga taong walang kalaban-laban lalo na sa mga nagsasalita at kumukontra sa administrasyon. Para bang may mga taong natatakot na lumabas ang katotohanan at nais pagtakpan ang mga tunay na may pananagutan sa usapin ng flood control project scandal. Natutuwa ako sa mga pagbabagong nagaganap sa Senado, lalo na sa bagong pamunuan at sa pamumuno ng Blue Ribbon Committee.
Ramdam na ng ilan ang pressure dahil alam nilang unti-unti nang mabubunyag sa sambayanang Pilipino kung sino-sino ang mga sangkot sa katiwalian lalo na ang mga pinakamalalaking personalidad na inuugnay sa kontrobersiyang ito. Kapag muling umusad ang imbestigasyon ng Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa flood control project, naniniwala akong magsisimula nang lumabas ang mga detalye at mas mapapalapit ang publiko sa katotohanan.
(How are all of you? I decided to appear today because I can no longer bear the reports I have been seeing about the alleged arrests and harassment of defenseless people, especially those who speak out and oppose the administration. It seems that there are people who are afraid that the truth will come out and want to cover up those truly responsible for the flood control project scandal. I am pleased with the changes taking place in the Senate, particularly under the new leadership and the leadership of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Some already feel the pressure because they know that the Filipino people will soon learn who are involved in the corruption, especially the most prominent figures linked to this controversy. Once the Blue Ribbon Committee resumes its investigation into the flood control project, I believe details will begin to emerge, and the public will come closer to the truth).”
There is no such video published in Co’s social media accounts. His last video appearance was posted on Nov. 26, 2025 on his official FB page in which he accused several officials of illegally inserting projects in the 2025 national budget.
A reverse image search traced the origin of the fake clip to an FB page that has been posting AI-made content. In the original post, the page owner clearly stated that the video of Co is AI-generated, and even reiterated in the comment section that it is not real and “for discussion, commentary, or satire purposes only.” Users who reposted the video did not include the disclaimer.
VERA Files tapped the Deepfake Analysis Unit of the India-based Trusted Information Alliance, to further verify the video. They ran the clip through AI-detection tools.
Results from Hive AI indicate that the video contains deepfake elements, while Resemble flagged both the video and audio as synthetic. Hiya Audio Intelligence flagged the audio as generated or modified by AI. Findings from Aurigin AI also indicate some segments of the audio track as AI.
The fake video surfaced two days after then-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced that the Senate probe into the flood control mess would resume on June 4. Newly appointed Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo, however, later moved the hearing to June 8. Despite this, the Cayetano-led bloc still pushed through with the earlier schedule which was not included in the official Senate records.
Published by five FB netizens, the posts collectively amassed over 1.3M views; 65,625 reactions; 5,890 comments; and 17,697 shares in total.
