A video of Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez (4th District) supposedly saying he is seeking reelection only to enrich himself is fake. This is manipulated through artificial intelligence (AI).
On May 7, a Facebook (FB) user posted a 31-second video of the actor-turned-politician supposedly admitting that he is only running for the post for money and his family’s advantage. He also allegedly called the people of Leyte “money-hungry.”
In the clip, Gomez can be heard saying in mixed Cebuano and Filipino:
Ako si Richard Gomez, magpasubli isip Congressman karong eleksyon. Nidagan ko para lang sa Ormoc hasta sa Kananga. Pasagdi lang na ubang lungsod wala ko’y labot ana nila. Nidagan ko pagka-Congressman dili para mag-serbisyo apan para magpadato arun mu asenso akong pamilya. Dili ko taga-Leyte pero mananalo pa rin ako bilang congressman. Pera-pera lang ‘yan. Mga mukhang pera ang mga taga-Leyte. ‘Pag mananalo ulit ako bilang congressman, sisiguraduhin ko lahat ng lupa sa Ormoc mata-transfer sa pangalan ko.
(I am Richard Gomez, thinking again [to be a] congressman this election. I am running only from Ormoc to Kananga. Leave the other cities behind, I do not care about them. I ran for congressman not to serve, but to get rich [and] so that my family can prosper. I am not from Leyte but I will still win as congressman. It’s all just money. The people of Leyte are money-hungry. If I win again as congressman, I will make sure that all lands in Ormoc will be transferred under my name).”
Several netizens criticized Gomez for the supposed statement.
The video is AI-manipulated. Gomez did not make such a remark. Voice cloning was used to imitate the congressman’s voice to make it appear that he made the statement.
Read the full story on VERA Files Fact Check.