10th Infantry Division says the viral image of troops holding a pro-Bato banner was fabricated and misrepresents the military’s neutrality
ARMY AI IMAGE BATO DELA ROSA – The Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division has branded as fake an image spreading on social media that shows its soldiers openly supporting fugitive Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, saying the picture was made with artificial intelligence (AI).
In a “Fake News Alert” issued on Friday, October 30, 2026, the division said the image “falsely portrays personnel of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, Philippine Army, as expressing political support for Senator Bato dela Rosa.”
The fabricated picture showed armed soldiers posing on top of an armored vehicle in front of the division’s main gate, holding a banner that read “We support Senator Bato dela Rosa.” The card carried a caption that said “good job we salute 10ID troopers” and was made to look like a post from an Army division page.
“The manipulated image misrepresents the professionalism and political neutrality of military personnel by fabricating an endorsement that could mislead the public,” the 10ID said.
The division asked the public to check information with official sources before sharing posts online. It stressed that its positions and statements are released only through authorized channels.
“The Division stands firmly against disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence to misrepresent its personnel,” it said, adding that it serves the Filipino people without any political affiliation or preference.
The fake image surfaced as authorities intensify the hunt for Dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an alleged co-perpetrator in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte over the bloody drug war. The Philippine National Police launched an all-out manhunt after his surrender deadline lapsed.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier claimed that the senator is hiding in Mindanao under the protection of an “armed and powerful group,” but did not name the group.