Doctor loses ₱93 million in deepfake Marcos video scam leading to arrest of two suspects in Pampanga

Summary

A doctor lost P93 million in a deepfake video scam involving a manipulated video of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The victim, Dr. Marie Faith Sagun-Villarta, was persuaded to invest after receiving expensive gifts from the suspects, who claimed the items were from the President. The scam occurred over the span of one year, during a period when politicians were filing their candidacies in 2024. Two suspects were arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga, following an entrapment operation by the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. The suspects are now facing charges for estafa and cybercrime. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed the video was a deepfake, an AI-generated forgery.