Senate impeachment court calls out fake, 'AI' photos of witness Ortonio wearing earpiece

The Senate impeachment court said Tuesday the pictures circulating on social media supposedly showing hostile witness Lemuel Ortonio wearing an earpiece was generated with artificial intelligence (AI).

"Hindi totoo 'yung lumalabas na mga letrato na hindi umano mayroong earpiece si Mr. Ortonio. 'Yun po ay AI," the tribunal's presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero said at the beginning of Day 20 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

(The photos circulating that supposedly show Mr. Ortonio without an earpiece are fake. They were AI-generated.)

"What he had was… an ear piercing in the front fold helix of his ear. Not an earpiece," he added.

Ortonio, Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff, took the stand last week as a hostile witness on Duterte's alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Escudero, meanwhile, reminded the parties that every witness "must testify solely from his or her own knowledge, free from coaching or influence from counsel or any other person."

"No witness, while testifying, shall possess, have access to or use any earpiece, headset, cellphone, smartwatch, smart glasses, or any other similar device capable of transmitting or receiving information or communication," he said.

"Witnesses are also prohibited from receiving or attempting to receive any communication, suggestion, answer, signal, message or prompt for any person whether inside or outside of this court," he added.

The presiding officer said the use of any necessary medical accessibility or device shall be subject to the court's approval.

Escudero directed the clerk to inform witnesses of the rules prior to testifying, secure all prohibited communication devices in the witness' possession before he or she is sworn in, and obtain the witness' confirmation on the record that he or she understands and shall comply with the directive.

He said any violation will be dealt with accordingly under the court's disciplinary powers. — VDV, GMA News