AFP Flags Fake YouTube Channel Impersonating Gen. Brawner

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday warned the public against a fake YouTube channel impersonating AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., saying the account was using highly deceptive, artificial intelligence–generated videos intended to mislead viewers.

In a statement released Tuesday night, the AFP said the fraudulent channel falsely presented itself as an official platform of the country’s top military official and featured manipulated content designed to appear authentic.

“The AFP warns the public against a fake YouTube channel impersonating AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. through highly deceptive, AI-generated videos,” the AFP said.

According to the military, the videos circulating on the channel were not authorized and had been digitally altered to resemble the likeness and voice of Gen. Brawner. The AFP stressed that neither the Chief of Staff nor the institution had any connection to the content uploaded on the channel.

“These contents are unauthorized, digitally manipulated, and intended to mislead,” the AFP said, urging the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing online material that claims to come from official government or military sources.

The AFP also condemned what it described as the malicious use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology, warning that such acts undermine public trust and pose serious risks to national security and public discourse.

“The AFP strongly condemns the malicious use of AI to undermine public trust, warning perpetrators and purveyors of deepfakes that the long arms of the law will soon catch up with them,” it added.

Screenshots released by the AFP showed that the YouTube channel, using the handle “Gen. Brawner Jr.,” had amassed more than 2,000 subscribers before it was taken down or became inaccessible. The military did not specify how long the channel had been active or how many videos had been uploaded prior to its disappearance.

As of the time the AFP issued its advisory, the channel could no longer be found through a standard YouTube search. It was not immediately clear whether the account had been removed by the platform, taken down by its operators, or restricted following reports of impersonation.

The AFP did not disclose the specific content of the AI-generated videos but emphasized that any statements, directives, or messages attributed to Gen. Brawner on unofficial platforms should be treated as false. The military reiterated that official announcements and statements from the AFP leadership are released only through verified channels, including the AFP’s official website and its authenticated social media accounts.