DAVAO CITY – A photo released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on June 18 showing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. walking alongside a firefighter inside the fire-gutted San Francisco High School in Quezon City quickly gained traction online—not only for its somber tone but also for the backlash it triggered. Some social media users claimed the image appeared too cinematic to be real, pointing to its dramatic shadows, framing, and suspicious lighting, calling it “AI-generated,” “staged,” or “edited.” In response, MindaNews consulted three veteran photojournalists—Manman Dejeto, Toto Lozano, and Bobby Timonera—to assess whether the image had been manipulated. Lozano stated the photo might have been enhanced but showed no signs of tampering, as adjustments in brightness or contrast are standard in photojournalism. Dejeto attributed the perceived strangeness to lighting and angle, noting that a second, less viral photo offered a clearer composition. Timonera, however, raised questions about positioning and lighting, finding some elements unnatural but leaned toward authenticity after seeing similar images from other photojournalists. MindaNews also used digital forensics tools like InVID, which flagged potential irregularities but found no conclusive evidence of manipulation. While the photo remains visually striking and technically enhanced, it has not been confirmed as fake. (Allizah Keziah Manulat, Marithe Franchesca Lalican, and Zoe Hontiveros / MindaNews Interns)
