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AI fakery rises, but cheapfakes still rule the race
By Pipo Gonzales and Yvonne T. Chua
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May 10, 2025
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AI-manipulated videos and audio have emerged as a growing disinformation tactic ahead of Monday’s midterm elections—more frequent, more targeted and more deceptive. Despite their rise, simpler manipulations, or shallowfakes, remain the more widespread threat, continuing to dominate the misinformation landscape flagged by fact-checkers.

Senate hopeful backs indigenous women’s push to save traditional farming, ancestral lands
By Blanch Ancla
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May 9, 2025
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In the upcoming midterm elections, senate bet and farmer-activist Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos stands with indigenous women farmers in the fight against synthetic fertilizers and champion organic farming in the Senate.

Inside Guo-Tok: How TikTok fan accounts whitewashed Alice Guo’s image amid POGO probe
By Nica Rhiana Hanopol, Rhenzel Raymond Caling, Psalm Mishael Taruc
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May 9, 2025
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A VERA Files investigation uncovered a network of 45 TikTok accounts that exhibited signs of a coordinated campaign from May to December 2024 to boost Guo’s reputation as a progressive leader and defend her innocence, amid the probe on her alleged links to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) during this period.

Phantom banks, shaky claims undercut viral Marcos gold story
By Yvonne T. Chua
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May 8, 2025
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The Marcos gold story has since gone viral on Chinese online platforms and has been amplified in the Philippines by supporters of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte, including vlogger Claire Eden Contreras (aka Maharlika) and lawyer Harry Roque. Both have used the allegations to again attack President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and revive rumors about his alleged drug use.

BAYAN KO: Isang mukha ng political dynasty
By Booma Cruz
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May 5, 2025
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Sinundan ng VERA Files ang isang mukha ng political dynasty sa Irosin, Sorsogon, at ang pagsisikap ng isang dating community doctor-turned-mayor na hadlangan ang pagpasok nito sa kanyang bayan.