FACT CHECK: Duterte sand sculpture image is AI-generated

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While some users pointed out that the image was likely AI-generated, others praised the children in the photo for creating the supposed sculpture honoring the former president

Claim: A photo circulating on social media shows children making a sand sculpture of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The image was shared by a Facebook page with over 83,000 followers, gaining traction with over 1,900 reactions, 176 comments, and 113 shares. The post features a photo of five children surrounding a sand sculpture of Duterte’s face, captioned, “Art made with sand.”

Some commenters praised the children, interpreting the scene as a tribute to Duterte. One user remarked, “Mga bata kilala nila si President Duterte. ‘Yan ang mga batang kinabukasan ng bayan.” 

(These kids know President Duterte. These are the kinds of children who represent the nation’s future.)

The facts: The image is fake. According to SightEngine, a deepfake detection tool, the image was found to be 99% likely AI-generated, specifically created with the use of Imagen Diffusion technology.

While some users were quick to dismiss the image as AI-generated, the post itself did not indicate such a disclaimer. The Facebook page that posted the image frequently shares AI-generated art featuring Duterte and typically includes an “AI” tag in its captions. This particular post, however, did not include such a tag, misleading audiences into believing the image was authentic. (READ: Picture too perfect: How AI is messing up reality)

Disinformation on all fronts: The prevalence of AI-generated images depicting supposed Duterte statues and sculptures may stem in part from his own remarks about being memorialized. In a speech to overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong in March 2025, he jokingly suggested that supporters could chip in a few dollars to build a monument of him beside national hero Jose Rizal. This remark was made amid reports of a possible arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court against him in connection with his administration’s deadly drug war.

Following his arrest, a surge of pro-Duterte content began flooding social media. According to an investigation by Israeli tech firm Cyabra, around one-third of X (formerly Twitter) accounts praising Duterte and attacking the ICC were fake and were part of a coordinated digital campaign. (READ: [DECODED] Duterte’s arrest revives familiar disinformation tactics)

Debunked AI claims: Several AI-generated images related to the former president have been fact-checked by Rappler:

• FACT CHECK: Photo of Duterte ‘national hero’ statue is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Duterte’s monument photo is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Photos of Duterte Senate slate supporters are AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Image of Jackie Chan sculpting Duterte statue is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: Photo of ‘Arab gold’ Duterte statue is AI-generated

 – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com 

Efren Cyril Bocar is a student journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar, enrolled in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. A managing editor of Amaranth, Cyril is a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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