Authorities debunked a video that allegedly shows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. using illegal drugs.
In a press conference on Monday, July 22, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police both shared the findings of their investigation on the video shown during a rally in the United States.
Based on the analysis of the NBI Cybercrime Division, the ear of the man shown in the video does not match the ear of President Marcos Jr.
"(The President and the person in the video) have their own unique characteristics of the ear as far as the two is concerned," said Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Benhur Abalos Jr., who also attended the press conference.
"Ibang tao ito as far as the tenga," Abalos stressed.
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) also found 'significant discrepancies' in the facial features of President Marcos and the man shown in the video, including in the size of their ears, as well in the shape of their eyes, and nose.
"Very different siya from the President," remarked PBGen. Ronnie Cariaga, head of the PNP-ACG.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Usec. Jesse Hermogenes Andres sees malicious intent behind the circulation of the video, which happened hours before the third State of the Nation Address of the President.
"The intention is really to make a misrepresentation. This impostor tried to present himself as an image of the President doing unsavory acts," the DOJ official claimed
Andres said that the DOJ already has leads regarding the identity of the people behind the video.
Cariaga added that the investigation of PNP-ACG and NBI now focuses on the people who uploaded the video in social media platforms.
NBI Dir. Jaime Santiago, meanwhile, said that the perpetrators belittle the capabilities of the cybersecurity experts in the Philippines, and the intelligence of the public.
"Gawa ito ng mga disgruntled na tao na ang nakakainis ay minamaliit ang intelihensiya ng ating kababayan. Akala nila ay napakaliit ng utak natin mga Pilipino," insisted Santiago.
