Camille Naredo

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III answers questions during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on October 6, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III answers questions during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on October 6, 2025.
Sotto states that he respects “whatever decision” Senator Panfilo Lacson makes regarding his planned resignation as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. He also expresses confidence in the stability of the Senate and affirms that its leadership remains well in place, asserting that both the minority and majority blocs are intact.
The Senate President also shares that he and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian plan to push for the banning of unprogrammed funds in future budget deliberations.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE LEADERSHIP- SOTTO

Anna Cerezo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176053987257020251006-senate-president-tito-sotto-MT12.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III answers questions during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on October 6, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/>Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III answers questions during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on October 6, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Wednesday it is investigating the AI-manipulated video of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III proposing a 50 percent tax on content creators.DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda warned against the use of artificial intelligence to spread false information, calling the video an example of deep fake content that violates ethical and platform standards.“Oo naman [we are investigating]. Yung mga deep fake na ginagamit ang image ng tao para sa fake news—bawal ‘yan. Hindi lang bawal, dapat ang mga platform kung saan nakita, hindi na dapat lumabas ‘yan,” he said in an interview in Bacoor, Cavite.“Makikipag-ugnayan kami sa social media platforms kung bakit lumusot pa ‘yan. May mekanismo sila para matanggal ang deep fake.”Sotto denied in a statement ever proposing a new tax, even stressing he has “consistently voted against it.”<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1128960395982043%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>“Hindi po ako nagpanukala ng bagong buwis — never did, never will,” he wrote on his social media page. “Suportado ko ang mga tunay na content creators na naghahatid ng saya, libangan, tamang impormasyon, at katotohanan sa ating mga kababayan.&quot;Aguda urged the public to report suspected deepfake or manipulated content to the DICT through 1326@dict.gov.ph. “Email niyo lang, take a screenshot, attach the video, and we will take that down,” he said.According to the secretary,  their “Bantay Katotohanan” program continues to monitor and act against the spread of online disinformation. “Slogan namin is ‘Stand with the truth.’ Lahat tayo, at one point, naging biktima ng tsismis o propaganda,” Aguda explained.“Pinaglaban natin ang freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and free press. Pero napakalaking disservice ‘yan kung hahayaan nating kumalat ang mga marites at fake news,” he added.The official said the DICT stands with journalists in protecting truthful information online. “Kakampi kami ng journalists. Gagawin namin lahat para matanggal ang mga gumagawa ng fake news,” he said. “Wait for more announcements — may tools na kami and execution plans to take them down.”

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Wednesday it is investigating the AI-manipulated video of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III proposing a 50 percent tax on content creators.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Wednesday it is investigating the AI-manipulated video of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III proposing a 50 percent tax on content creators.

DICT investigating AI-manipulated video of Sotto proposing 50% tax for content creators

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DICT investigating AI-manipulated video of Sotto proposing 50% tax for content creators

Anna Cerezo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 15, 2025 11:37 PM PHT

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