FACT-CHECK: Image of Bato Dela Rosa’s “vacation” in Malaysia is AI-generated

admin 9:19 PM

CLAIM: Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is on vacation in Malaysia. 

 

RATING: FALSE

 

An AI-generated image falsely showing Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in Malaysia has racked up thousands of reactions, comments, and shares online, with comments suggesting that viewers were unable to recognize it as fake.

Flagged content: A Facebook page named “Tatay Digong Ama Ng Pilipinas” uploaded the AI-generated photo of Dela Rosa May 15, 2026. 

  • The image showed dela Rosa wearing a suit and carrying large bags while holding up a newspaper, with Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Twin Towers in the background.
  • Several artifacts commonly associated with AI-generated images were visible, including distorted text, facial features, and other visual inconsistencies.
  •  The image also contained details that did not accurately match the real-world location where the supposed photo was purportedly taken.

Our debunk: PressOne.PH subjected the image to multiple AI detection tools, which found strong indications that it was generated using artificial intelligence rather than captured by a camera.

  • TruthScan found the image as 77% likely AI-generated, while the image analysis features of QuillBot and ZeroGPT detected signs of AI manipulation at 92% and 80% likelihood, respectively.
  • On May 14, Bureau of Immigration Spokesperson Dana Sandoval told reporters that they have no record of the senator traveling outside of the Philippines.
  • The Department of Justice also placed Dela Rosa under an immigration lookout bulletin and instructed authorities to arrest the senator on the basis of the outstanding ICC warrant should he attempt to leave the country.

Rewind: Dela Rosa is currently facing an ICC arrest warrant linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. 

  • On the night of May 13, a shooting incident disrupted the Senate’s business. Dela Rosa was later reported to have left the Senate building at around 2:30 a.m the next day. 

‎Why we fact-checked this: The false claim circulated online and caused confusion about dela Rosa’s whereabouts, gaining 2,300 reactions, 323 comments, and 59 shares.

  • Nearly all of the content posted by the Facebook page is AI-generated and supportive of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his family.

Spot the fake: As false narratives about dela Rosa, the Senate, and the ICC continue to circulate online, AI-generated images and misleading posts may also spread on social media. Here are ways to spot the false claims:

  • Check whether the ICC or the Philippine government issued an official statement confirming the alleged arrest or travel to Malaysia.
  • Verify whether credible news organizations reported the claim before sharing it online.
  • Examine images for signs of AI manipulation or use AI detection tools to know if it’s been manipulated.
  • Be cautious of posts from unfamiliar pages or accounts with no verified news background. Johan Ckhyla Galang


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PressOne.PH is a verified signatory of the Code of Principles of the International Fact -Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. We believe nonpartisan and transparent fact-checking can be a powerful instrument of accountability journalism..

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