FACT-CHECK: AI-generated image of ex-senator Bong Revilla Jr. in prison spreads online

admin 9:19 PM
 

CLAIM: Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.  was photographed inside the New Quezon City Jail.

 

RATING: ALTERED

 

An AI-manipulated photo of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. inside a jail cell wearing a detainee’s uniform surfaced online on Jan. 24.

 

Flagged content: Facebook page “Celeb Central” posted a series of photos including the AI-altered image of the former senator sitting on a bunk bed inside the New Quezon City Jail. 

  • The caption also claimed without proof that Revilla Jr. pleaded to senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva to “visit” or “join him” inside.
  • The original photo was from the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s October 2025 Facebook post when they showed to the public the prison cells that will hold personalities involved in the flood control corruption scandal. 

Our debunk: Multiple AI detection tools confirm strong traces of manipulation in the photo. 

  • Analysis from both Undetectable.AI and ZeroGPT found 97% likelihood of AI manipulation.
  • Another tool, FakeImageDetector.com, suggested that the image “looks computer-generated or modified.”
  • As of writing, Revilla Jr. remains in custody of the Sandiganbayan Third Division and no official photos were released to the public detailing his detention inside the New Quezon City Jail.
  • There are no credible records of Revilla asking neither Villanueva nor Estrada to join or visit him.

 

Rewind: In September 2025, the former senator was tagged by former public works official Roberto Bernardo and dismissed Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara in separate testimonies to the flood control corruption scandal. 

  • Revilla allegedly facilitated the release of about P76 million in public funds for the supposed construction of a flood control system in Pandi, Bulacan. 
  • According to initial reports, the project has originally been tagged as “completed” in the online transparency portal of the DPWH. However, the listing has been changed to,  “0% complete” with its start and completion dates scrubbed.

Why we fact-checked this: The same altered photo has also surfaced on other social media platforms. The original post has since been shared 164 times.

Spot the fake: AI-generated or manipulated images can easily mislead the public and divert attention away from more important issues.  These images can provoke emotions and bolster disinformation efforts that disrupt the information space. 

  • Google and other search engines have reverse image search features that allow users to find the original or first version of a photo online, and see where else it has been uploaded.
  • AI detection tools available online provide free and accessible services to check the veracity and authenticity of images and videos. Hurt Allauigan, with reports from Jelly Lustre


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