FACT CHECK: No ban on cellphone use starting April 15; video is AI-generated

Claim: Starting April 15, 2026, the use of cellphones will be banned nationwide. 

Rating: FALSE 

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was posted on March 30 and has already received 1.9 million views, 16,400 reactions, 3,800 shares, and 3,300 comments as of writing. 

It shows a video of a news reporter saying, “Paalala sa lahat na banned na o bawal na ang cellphone at paggamit nito sa buong bansa simula April 15. Ang lalabag ay may multa at pwedeng makulong.” 

(Reminder to everyone that cellphones and their use will be banned nationwide starting April 15. Violators will be fined and may face imprisonment.)

Most of the comments raised concern about the legitimacy of the supposed report. Others were confused about how the alleged ban would be implemented and how they would be able to communicate with their relatives once it is in force. 

The facts: Contrary to the claim, there are no official announcements from the government that cellphone use will be banned starting April 15. The video has been flagged by various detection tools as being artificial intelligence (AI)-generated. 

AI video detector Hive Moderation flagged the video as 65.5% likely to be AI-generated. Truth Scan also detected 69% AI probability from the same video. 

A screenshot from the video was flagged by AI image detector Sight Engine as 82% likely to be AI-generated. Undetectable AI also stated in its analysis that the photo is likely to be generated by AI, with only 31% probability of it being real. 

Ban on cellphones: While there were previous moves to ban cellphone use in the Philippines, this was specifically limited to school settings, and there has been no move for a nationwide implementation. 

In 2024, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, former chair of the Senate committee on basic education, filed a bill seeking to prohibit students and teachers from using cellphones during class hours. The bill has remained pending in the legislative committee. 

A Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Gatchalian in 2024 showed that 76% of Filipinos support banning mobile devices in classrooms. 

In 2025, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said that while the department discourages the use of gadgets during class hours, it supports the integration of electronic devices in learning. 

Meanwhile, other countries have implemented a ban on phone use in schools amid concerns over declining attention in classrooms and social media harms.

Previous fact-checks: Rappler has previously debunked similar claims about AI-generated videos spreading false claims about supposed government-imposed bans: 

• FACT CHECK: ‘News report’ about ‘angkas’ ban is false 
• FACT CHECK: No ban on consumption of processed meats; video is AI-generated 
• FACT CHECK: Vehicles over 5 years old not banned – LTO 
• FACT CHECK: Video of liquor ban in select areas is false; links lead to e-commerce site  
• FACT CHECK: Christmas parties in schools not banned – DepEd 
• FACT CHECK: Chinese nationals not banned from US 

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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