AI Generates Fake Duterte CD Statue Deceiving Many

An image claiming to show a statue of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made from recycled compact discs (CDs) recently went viral, deceiving many online and leading some to tease critics about creating a similar monument for the incumbent president.

The Viral Claim and Public Reaction

Claim: A photo depicts a statue of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte constructed using recycled compact discs (CDs).

Rating: FALSE

This claim was fact-checked because a Facebook post featuring the image garnered significant attention, accumulating 4,900 reactions, 202 shares, and 448 comments at the time of writing. The post's caption read: “Art made of used CD.”

Many Filipino commenters appeared to believe the statue was real, expressing amazement and strong support for the detained former president. Some even shared the post with a top comment that said: “Mga anti-Duterte wag na kayo magalit, gagawan din natin SI BBM (Bongbong Marcos) hahaha.” (Critics of Duterte, don’t get mad, we’ll make one for BBM too, hahaha.)

Unveiling the Truth AI Confirms Fake Image

The facts: Analysis by the AI detection tool Sight Engine indicates a 99% probability that the Facebook image was created with AI, specifically through Imagen diffusion technology.

The Facebook page “Duterte News Info,” which shared the image, has a history of posting AI-generated images of Duterte statues to promote pro-Duterte content. While some of their posts are clearly labeled as AI-generated, many, including this recent viral image, lack any such disclaimer. This omission misleads viewers into believing these fabricated images are authentic, thereby fueling false narratives and artificially inflating Duterte’s public image.

Context Duterte Monument Joke and ICC Scrutiny

In March 2025, Duterte himself jokingly suggested building a monument in his honor while addressing a crowd of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong. This remark was made during a campaign rally for his party’s senatorial candidates ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.

This comment surfaced amidst reports of a possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning his controversial war on drugs.

As of May 2025, there has been no credible evidence or reports of any plans to build a monument or statue of Duterte, whether from recycled CDs or any other material. No artist or group has claimed to have created such a statue, and no such monument exists.

Pro Duterte Disinformation and Its Impact

Despite being detained in The Hague on ICC charges of crimes against humanity linked to his drug war, Duterte reportedly won the 2025 Davao City mayoral race by a landslide, securing over 662,630 votes. The Facebook post featuring the AI-generated statue is one of many pieces of content fueling his continued popularity.

Furthermore, a Rappler investigation revealed that Duterte’s purported March 11 arrest by Interpol under an ICC warrant has reignited familiar disinformation tactics on social media. Supporters are recycling old strategies that portray Duterte as a frail yet heroic victim, defending his violent war on drugs and framing the ICC probe as illegal foreign interference. (Read: [DECODED] Duterte’s arrest revives familiar disinformation tactics)

A History of Debunked AI Fakes

Rappler has debunked multiple AI-generated images falsely depicting statues and monuments honoring Duterte:

• FACT CHECK: Photo of Duterte ‘fishnet statue’ is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Photo of Duterte ‘Coca-Cola statue’ in the Netherlands is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Photo of ‘Arab gold’ Duterte statue is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Image of Jackie Chan sculpting Duterte statue is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Photo of Duterte ‘national hero’ statue is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Duterte’s monument photo is AI-generated

– Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com

Marjuice Destinado is a Rappler intern. She is also a fact-checker and researcher-writer at Explained PH. A third-year political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU), she serves as the feature editor of Ang Suga, CNU’s official student publication.

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