President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rehearses his speech for the third State of the Nation Address at the Malacanang Palace on July 21, 2024.  Presidential Communications Office 

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Agencies on Monday said they would exert all efforts to find the people behind a viral video purportedly showing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. doing drugs and that Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said is part of an attempt to destabilize the government.

In a video message, Teodoro denounced the video, which he said was shown at a Maisug convention in Los Angeles, as clearly fake.

"Kitang-kita po dito sa video na hindi po yan ang ating Pangulo. Peke po ang gawa nila na video, at obvious po na ito ay gawa-gawa lamang," he said. 

(It can be clearly seen that the man in the video is not the President. They made a fake video and it is obvious that this was just fabricated)

He noted that the video was released after rumors of generals walking out of a command conference — a rumor that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has belied — and other disinformation about the military.

"Maliwanag sa akin... meron pong matinding plano na i-destabilize ang ating gobyerno," he also said. (It is clear to me that there is a serious plan to destabilize the government) 

Teodoro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense will work with all government agencies to hold people to account for creating and showing the video. 

He also called on authorities in the US to investigate the matter.

DICT: Video is a 'deepfake'

READ: Meta says ‘working on responding better’ vs deepfakes, disinformation 

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) meanwhile said the video was “deepfake” or digitally created. 

Those behind the video could be held liable under laws against cyber libel, slander, and malicious mischief, said DICT Secretary Ivan Uy. 

He added that the public should expect more deepfake videos “considering election season is coming.” 

In a statement on Monday afternoon, the DICT said it "has ascertained that [the video] is a poorly designed deepfake video that can easily be identified using simple tools openly available online."

RELATED: Deepfakes to be monitored ahead of election season — CICC, Comelec

The Department of Justice, in a separate statement, stressed that the production and dissemination of false information is not only irresponsible but is also illegal under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code.

The department noted that Article 154 states that any person who, by means of printing or any other means of publication, shall publish or cause to be published as news any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State, can be held criminally liable. 

“The Department of Justice is committed to upholding the law and will take all necessary actions to identify and prosecute those responsible for this deceitful act,” the DOJ said in a statement.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said he has ordered the national police to form a task force to identify who created and spread the video.  

“If they will be proven to be liable under RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act)...ang penalty is minimum of 4 years maximum of 8 prison correctional ang penalty. Kahit sino man nagpapakalat ng malicious video," Police BGen. Matthew Baccay, director of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, said. 

'Malicious'

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, when asked for comment a few hours ahead of the President’s third State of the Nation Address, called it “malicious.”  

In a separate interview, Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon blasted the people behind the video, saying they were "bitter people who were not appointed."

He added: "Ipagpatuloy pa nila lalo, ibaon niyo lalo sa hukay ang inyong mga sarili dahil talaga namang wala namang pumapansin sa inyo."

(They should keep at it and keep digging themselves deeper into a hole. Nobody is paying them any attention anyway)

READ: How to spot 'deepfake, shallowfake' manipulated videos

The official also criticized vlogger Maharlika who was among the first to repost the video in her vlog.

“Syempre 'yan ang pinagkakakitaan niya, so lahat 'yan ginagawa niya ganyan, kaya alangan namang, wala namang naniniwala diyan,” he said. “Hayaan mo siya, kailangan niya kumain eh. Hindi kakain 'yan kung hindi gagawa ng mga issues.”

(Of course, that's how she makes money so she is doing all that. She needs to eat. She will not have anything to eat if she doesn't make issues up)

Duterte:  Denial not enough

Former President Rodrigo Duterte meanwhile said the Hakbang ng Maisug national leadership was not involved in the decision to show the video.

"It was a decision made entirely by the Maisug volunteers in the said two places without the knowledge and imprimatur of the Maisug organizing committee. The members of the Maisug leadership [are] just as surprised as the rest of the country when they saw it for the first time," he said.

But, Duterte said, a simple denial would not be enough to address what he said was a "simmering suspicion" that the President uses drugs — a suspicion that Duterte has helped fuel.

READ: Duterte backtracks on drug claims vs Marcos, Mindanao secession

"Even the ordinary man on the street knows that the best way to put the issue to rest is for President Marcos to undergo a hair follicle drug test. When undertaken by a credible drug testing center, a negative result would erase all doubts once and for all," Duterte also said.

Duterte and his allies used an alleged sex video of then Sen. Leila De Lima to discredit her in 2016 and to pave the way for legislative hearings and criminal complaints against her. 

De Lima, who said the video was fake, has since been acquitted on drug cases filed against her by the Duterte administration and that she has always maintained were politically motivated.

RELATED: Panelo’s ‘punishment’ comment shows motive for drug cases — De Lima