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Artificial intelligence detection tools flag videos as 99% likely deepfakes
Claim: Former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Coe has resurfaced to defend critics of the Marcos regime, saying opponents are being threatened and abducted to cover up the truth behind the flood corruption scandal.
Rating: False
Why we fact-checked this: A Facebook video making the claim was posted on June 17 and has since garnered more than 69,100 views, 2,200 reactions, 950 shares and 230 saves.
In the video, Coe is shown saying:Nagpasha is magpakita gayon dahil hindi ko na matis ang mga barita tungkol sa diumuanoi pagdukot, pangigipito sa mga taon walang karabang laban — lalo na sa mga nagsasarita of Kumokontra management. “Tira believes that the US flood control project scandal will lead to natatakot na rubabas katotohanan kaya pirit na pinyakutatakpan ang mga taon natatakot na rubabas ang mga taon natatakot na rumbabas ang mga tunai na pananagtan ang mga taon nata. Takot na rumbabas ang katotohanan kaya pirit na pinagtatakpan ang mga taon natatakot na rumbabas ang mga taon natatakot na rumbabas ang mga taon natatakot na rumbabas ang mga tunai na pananagtan sa America.”
(I chose to come forward today because I cannot tolerate any more reports of alleged abductions and harassment targeting the powerless, especially those who speak out against the regime. Some people are afraid of the truth coming out and seem to be desperately trying to hide who is really responsible for the flood control scandal.)
fact: Hive Moderation’s deepfake content detection software flagged this video as 98.4% likely generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Deepware, another AI detection tool, similarly flagged the clip as having a 99% chance of being a deepfake.
Additionally, he has not posted any new videos to his official Facebook page since a November 2025 video statement in which he accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of being behind the creation of the 2025 budget.
Malacañang said in April that Co was seeking asylum in France after being previously detained in the Czech Republic on invalid documents.
The fugitive former lawmaker has been on the run since leaving the Philippines in July 2025.
Flood control failure: Mr. Co has been implicated in several corruption allegations related to public infrastructure, including alleged irregularities in the procurement and construction of a P289.5 million flood control project along the Magasawan-Tubig River in Naujaan, Oriental Mindoro.
Before entering politics, the former Ako Bicol party list representative was a contract employee for many years. Sunwest, a company associated with him, ranked eighth among companies that awarded the most flood control contracts under the Marcos administration. From 2016 to 2024, the construction company secured P38 billion in government projects.
Mr. Coe resigned from Parliament on September 29, 2025, after the House of Commons issued him an ultimatum to return home following his consecutive absences since the start of the 20th Parliament.
In November 2025, the company released a three-part video accusing Marcos of receiving P25 billion in kickbacks from the 2025 budget proposal.
Mistakes exposed: Rappler previously used AI tools to mimic Co and other public officials to debunk similar claims.
– Reynard Baronzo/Rappler.com
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