A recent video circulating on social media falsely claims that Sarah Discaya, a businesswoman and former mayoral candidate in Pasig City, admitted to misappropriating funds intended for flood control projects during Senate hearings. The video, which has garnered significant attention, features manipulated audio suggesting Discaya made these statements at hearings on September 1 and September 8.
In the altered video, Discaya allegedly states that public officials are complicit in corruption, implying a system that fosters embezzlement of public funds. However, fact-checking efforts have determined that these assertions were never made by Discaya in either Senate hearing. The deepfake detection platform Resemble AI confirmed the audio’s manipulation, indicating it does not reflect actual events.
During the legitimate hearings, Discaya did appear, where she accused lawmakers and engineers of receiving kickbacks related to public infrastructure projects. Her participation arose after investigations revealed that several flood control initiatives associated with her companies were designated as non-existent or “ghost projects.” On September 11, the Department of Public Works and Highways initiated criminal complaints against Discaya and other involved contractors.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also established an independent commission to look into these ongoing infrastructure controversies.
- Why it matters: The spread of misinformation can significantly influence public perception and trust in governmental processes and accountability related to infrastructure funding.
- Increased scrutiny and validation of contractor activities may lead to reform in how public funds are managed, impacting elections and governance.
- The latest: On September 11, the Department of Public Works and Highways filed criminal complaints against Discaya and other contractors over alleged infrastructure corruption.
Source: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/viral-video-sarah-discaya-admitting-stolen-funds-ai-manipulated/
Source: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/viral-video-sarah-discaya-admitting-stolen-funds-ai-manipulated/