(from left) Justice Undesecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres, NBI Director Jaime Santiago, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos and PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil discussing the analysis result on video allegedly that of the President. 鈥擯hoto by Tetch Torres-Tupas/黑料社
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Separate forensic analysis conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police suggested that the man supposedly taking drugs in a viral video was not President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the NBI said it used an imaging process called video spectral comparator to determine the authenticity of the video, which was reportedly shown at an antigovernment rally in the United States. It shows a man, supposedly Marcos, taking what appears to be white powder from a small plastic container and sniffing it.
READ: DOJ, PNP to probe 鈥榝ake,鈥� 鈥榤alicious鈥� Marcos video
The NBI compared the right ear of the President and the man in the video and pointed out their 鈥渦nique characteristics鈥� to show that these were two different people.
Joseph Reuel Cruz of the NBI said the features of Marcos鈥� right ear were 鈥渕ore embossed鈥� and 鈥渓arger鈥� compared to the unidentified man.
鈥淎nd those are just the ears. The jawline and the facial structure are also different from each other,鈥� Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. added.
The PNP agreed with the NBI鈥檚 findings based on their separate analysis.
鈥淭hese pictures show significant discrepancy in the facial features, particularly the size of the ear, shape of the eyes, shape of the nose and the sideburns,鈥� PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga said.
According to him, they are also investigating those who spread the video and the sites that re-uploaded them.
The Department of Justice, however, could not say whether the man in the video was an actual person or created by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. 鈥淏ut definitely, he鈥檚 not the President,鈥� Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said.
鈥淭he intention is to make a misrepresentation. This impostor is trying to present himself as an image of the President doing unsavory acts. This is really malicious,鈥� Andres said.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the video was created by 鈥渄isgruntled individuals鈥� who were belittling the intelligence of the public.
鈥淭hey think we are small-minded,鈥� he said.
According to Andres, they already have 鈥渟ubstantial leads鈥� on the possible perpetrators and they are also looking into whether individuals who shared the video may be held liable for cybercrime.
鈥淲e are looking into that angle鈥攚hether there is bad faith in circulating this and if you provided particular comments as if you鈥檙e agreeing with respect to this video being a representation of the President, you may be equally liable for cybercrime,鈥� he said.