FACT CHECK: Video of Zaldy Co claiming Marcos gov’t is harassing critics is AI-generated (opens original article in a new tab)

A video claiming Zaldy Co accused the Marcos government of harassing critics was identified as an AI-generated deepfake. Co faces corruption allegations and has been evading authorities since 2025.

• AI detection tools flag video as 99% likely deepfake
• Zaldy Co accused of corruption in flood control projects
• Co has been on the run since 2025 and sought asylum in France