FACT CHECK: Photo of Duterte handing Marcoleta a beer is AI-generated

Claim: A photo shows Senator Rodante Marcoleta receiving a can of beer from former president Rodrigo Duterte, while Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) executive minister Eduardo Manalo watches on.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The photo has been circulating on Facebook, with multiple accounts posting the same photo and sharing it to various Facebook groups with as many as 37,000 members. 

While some posts have since been deleted, screenshots presented during a December 15 Senate hearing show that one had gained as many as 21,200 reactions, 14,600 comments, and 1,800 shares before being taken down. The most popular one that remains active has 196 reactions, 338 comments, and 13 shares as of writing. 

In the photo, Marcoleta, Duterte, and Manalo are dressed in designer clothes as a party is seemingly going on in the background. 

The captions of these posts vary, with one calling it a “banal na hapunan” (holy dinner). Another claims Marcoleta could not say no to Duterte handing him a drink because of their friendship, while one post points out that Manalo is joining in even when alcohol is prohibited for INC members.

Some comments on these posts also show that users believe the photo to be real. “Huwag kayong mag malinis tapos sabihin nyo kayo lang maliligtas pero may mga bisyo na naman kayo,” one commenter wrote.

The facts: Several AI detection tools flagged the photo as fake. Sightengine says that the viral photo has a 99% likelihood of being AI-generated, while Undetectable AI and TruthScan came to the same conclusion with 97% confidence.

Marcoleta himself also debunked the photo during a December 15 Senate hearing of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media. He labeled the post as “fake,” along with a slew of other social media posts.

“Alam naman po nila na Iglesia po ako’t hindi po kami umiinom ng kahit anong alak o anong iinuming nakalalango,” he said.

(You all know that I’m a member of Iglesia ni Cristo and we don’t drink any alcohol or any drink that can cause intoxication.)

Marcoleta and the INC: Marcoleta is a prominent INC member. In general, the church’s members are prohibited from running for public office, but a campaign veteran privy to talks with the INC told Rappler in an August 25 report that the church “anointed” Marcoleta and supported his campaign with resources.

After becoming a senator following the 2025 midterm elections, Marcoleta has remained an outspoken INC member. He also spoke during the INC’s rally last November 16 and 17, where he criticized the flood control probes for lack of transparency.

Previous fact-checks: Rappler has debunked other false claims about Marcoleta:

• FACT CHECK: Rodante Marcoleta is still senator 
• FACT CHECK: Marcoleta not replacing Marcos as president 
• FACT CHECK: Marcoleta is a senator, not the House speaker
• FACT CHECK: Marcoleta not behind West Philippine Sea label on Google Maps 
• FACT CHECK: Karen Davila did not question Marcoleta’s Senate win 

– Shay Du/Rappler.com

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