Senator Risa Hontiveros issued a warning to the public on Friday regarding manipulated photos circulating online that falsely suggest she is friends with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
Hontiveros took to social media to denounce the images as fake, urging social media platforms to address the spread of AI-generated content. “Wala akong kaibigan na pekeng Pilipino. Mag-ingat po sa mga edited photos online na magkasama kami diumano at magkaibigan daw kami. THIS IS FAKE,” she stated.
Guo, who has been linked to an illegal POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac, faces graft charges filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Her identity and citizenship were also questioned during Senate hearings.
Hontiveros was the first to reveal that Guo had managed to leave the country in July. She is set to lead the Senate’s investigation into Guo’s escape. Philippine authorities have confirmed that Guo remains in Indonesia and has not attempted to leave the country.