A video purporting to show US military warships and troops arriving in Subic Bay, Philippines, has been confirmed as AI-generated by a Rappler fact check. The YouTube post, dated January 16 and garnering over 52,000 views, included clips of troops on vessels and beaches, despite a disclaimer noting its artificial creation that many viewers overlooked.
A YouTube video posted on January 16 went viral, depicting multiple US Navy warships and troops arriving in Subic Bay, titled “U.S. Navy Arrives in Force: Multiple Warships Spotted at Subic Bay, Philippines Left Stunned.” It amassed 52,182 views and 261 likes, with numerous comments expressing gratitude to the US government for the supposed troop deployment to the Philippines. However, the video's description included a disclaimer stating it was AI-generated, which the uploader did not reinforce in responses to viewers.
The fact check confirms the clips are artificially created. Hive Moderation's AI detector rated it 99.9% likely AI-generated, while Undetectable AI assessed it as “likely generated by AI” with 96% confidence.
No such mass arrival of US vessels occurred in Subic Bay at that time, though real military engagements have taken place nearby. From January 25 to 26, 2026, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and US Navy held a bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in Bajo de Masinloc, involving the USS John Finn (DDG 113) and an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. Within Subic Bay, an MCA occurred from September 11 to 13, 2025, also featuring the USS John Finn. The most recent multilateral operation was the Multilateral Maritime Event (MME) of Balikatan Exercise 2025, from April 24 to 29, 2025, which included the USS Savannah (LCS-28), USS Comstock (LSD-45), and assets from the Philippines and Japan.
Written by Lorenz Pasion for Rappler, this fact check underscores the need for caution against AI-crafted content to curb disinformation.
