FACT CHECK: Video of people panic-buying water drums for Super El Niño is AI-generated

Multiple satirical videos surfaced online after Marcos advised people to buy buckets to store water amid concerns over Super El Niño A viral video claiming panic-buying of water drums in response to President Marcos' advice is flagged as AI-generated and misleading. The President's actual statement encouraged the public to buy buckets for rainwater collection due to anticipated water supply issues from Super El Niño. Despite the misinformation, there is a noted increase in demand for buckets and water drums, but authorities advise against panic buying. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. Claim: Hordes of people are panic-buying water drums at a local warehouse after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. advised the public to store water in preparation for the anticipated Super El Niño. Rating: FALSE Why we fact-checked this: Facebook user Bonz Gimenez posted a viral video showing hundreds of people supposedly storming a water drum warehouse to hoard multiple containers. The caption read, “Panic buying ng mga malalaking drums sa isang warehouse (Panic buying of large drums at a warehouse).” The individuals in the video appeared hysterical, arguing over the plastic drums and pushing each other. Vehicles are scattered around the supposed warehouse, where people are shown loading the containers. The video has garnered 20 million views, 257,000 reactions, 10,400 comments, and 26,000 shares as of writing. While multiple commenters believe the video to be AI-generated, many still believe the claim. One Facebook user commented, “Hala? Ante Claire [Castro] at BBM (Marcos), nag-panic buying na ng mga drum at timba; ang galing niyo talaga!” (Oh my? Auntie Claire and BBM, people have started panic-buying drums and pails — you guys are truly something else!) Multiple users have also reposted the video, claiming it was the result of the President’s advice to the public to buy buckets to collect rainwater in preparation for the effects of Super El Niño. The facts: The video is AI-generated. SightEngine, an AI detection tool, flagged screenshots of the video as 99% likely to be AI-generated. It also gave the video a score of 32%, with some frames reaching 66% and 99%. Similarly, Hive Detect also marked multiple parts of the video as 81% AI-generated. There are also no reports from credible sources confirming the incident shown in the video. The video and other satirical content about plastic water buckets were fueled by the President’s statement during an interview in Singapore on October 11. While talking about the government’s plans to prepare for the anticipated water supply issue with the looming Super El Niño, Marcos said, “Bumili na kayo ng balde para ‘pag umulan, makolekta na ninyo lahat.” (Buy buckets so when it rains, you can collect rainwater). He added that the government would roll out an information campaign on filtering and storing rainwater, saying, “We’ll give you the filter; we’ll teach you how to do everything.” Marcos’ bucket remark has drawn mixed reactions, but Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clapped back at government detractors in an October 13 statement, saying: “Hindi po ito pagkaniya-kaniya. Kung ito lang po ang narinig na patungkol sa balde, ang mas maganda po, umupo sila at makinig. Sit down and listen kung ano ang sinasabi ng Pangulo.” (This is not about everyone fending for themselves. If all they heard was the remark about buckets, it would be better if they sat down and listened. Sit down and listen to what the President is saying.) She added that Marcos’ advice was not a joke and should be taken seriously. Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte said on October 12 that she does not want to comment about Marcos’ bucket statement, but mentioned that “we can’t rely on the President.” Water filtration: In an October 14 Palace briefing, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it would distribute water filtration kits to communities vulnerable to El Niño, then demonstrated how to use them. The DSWD will first distribute the kits to local government units that have declared a state of calamity due to El Niño, as well as high-density areas in Metro Manila experiencing low water pressure. (READ: DENR: 1 in 3 barangays nationwide highly vulnerable to El Niño) Since 2024, the department has already deployed buckets with built-in water filtration technology to disaster-hit areas without access to potable water. Higher demand: Markets are already seeing a high demand for buckets and water drums. Stores in Divisoria have begun procuring more supplies as people buy more than usual. Vendors have assured the public that supplies remain available, even as one seller urged consumers to avoid panic buying. The government has also echoed this, as police continue to monitor the situation. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the current El Niño is expected to intensify into a very strong El Niño between the September–December 2026 season and persist through the first half of 2027. – Eirene Manatlao/Rappler.com Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time. How does this make you feel? Loading