The videos show a man wearing a cap and a white shirt, with physical characteristics similar to those of the Colombian president, walking through the streets of the historic center of Panama, accompanied by a woman in a blue dress who is clearly not his wife, Verónica Alcocer.
Users’ opinions have exploded on social media claiming that it is Petro. However, the only thing confirmed so far is that he was in Panama City to attend the inauguration of the new Panamanian president, Raúl Mulino.
Users on social media were comparing a photo that the president took with a citizen on the streets of the Panamanian capital. He wore the same shirt and the same cap as the man who walks holding the hand of a woman who is not his wife.
Without confirming its veracity, Petro reacted to one of the hundreds of comments that mocked his supposed company, stating “I am heterosexual, but you will never hear or read a transphobic word from me. Because I would not only stop being a man, but human,” the president wrote on his X account.
Petro attacked those who, in his opinion, do not respect people’s privacy and, in addition, have serious homophobic discriminatory expressions.
“I have always considered that privacy is the ‘last ratio’ of freedom, the last trench of being free, and I will maintain this principle until I write about myself or die. But these thousands of transphobic messages that have exploded in the hands of a right-wing society, deeply exclusive, ignorant and discriminatory, must be rejected by the president,” she added.
But the president’s post, which was probably intended to quell the wave of comments, did not succeed. Criticism and comments about the alleged infidelity during an official trip representing the Colombian government, and the use of state resources from taxpayers, have invaded social networks. Memes with different and humorous messages have not been long in coming.
More unknowns
Meanwhile, netizens have claimed that the woman the Colombian president is seen in a romantic relationship with is Colombian trans presenter Linda Yepes, with whom he can be seen in the video holding hands and smiling lovingly.
Following the scandal in which she was implicated, Yepes gave an interview on the subject on Univision’s Despierta América program, in which she did not confirm that it was her and assured that the Presidency had already contacted her after the publication of the video.
“The presidential team won’t let me give details. I was in Panama, but I can’t say whether I’m the one in the video or not. I’ll be here ready for you when you let me talk,” she added in her statements, which far from clarifying the alleged infidelity, have caused greater reactions on social media.
“I can’t give details yet, I can’t give a concrete answer because I’m receiving threats,” the host stressed.
Petro’s followers question the veracity of the video
The president’s supporters question the veracity of the video; but others have no doubt that it is the Colombian president, given his physique, the clothes he was wearing that day, and the bodyguards; while others wonder who the companion is and whether the material had been manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence.
Amid the debate, some media outlets have consulted experts to verify the authenticity of the video.
Artificial Intelligence expert Antonio Martínez said in an interview with Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo program that he believes the video is not a montage nor was it created with Artificial Intelligence, due to the sequence of images. However, he says he cannot confirm whether it is President Petro and presenter Linda Yepez.
“I don’t think it’s an AI-generated video, because this technology isn’t consistent enough to make a video like this,” he said.
Martínez explained that “videos with artificial intelligence are characterized by things appearing and disappearing, but in this video it doesn’t seem that way to me. In videos created with AI, a clear image of the faces that are being replaced is used, and in this case it is a blurry video.”
Meanwhile, the Colombian opposition took the opportunity to once again question Petro’s relationship with his wife Verónica Alcocer, pointing out the couple’s recent public absences and spreading rumors about a possible infidelity.
For their part, supporters and defenders of the Petro point out that it is another strategy by the opposition to destabilize and damage the image of the current president of Colombia, who is about to complete 2 years in power.
There is no official statement
Meanwhile, the Casa de Nariño has not made any official statement on the situation, the only reaction has been Petro’s to the avalanche of comments.
The silence of the Colombian government is striking, since if it really were a fake video, the presidency would have an obligation to speak out denying its authenticity.
@Lydr05
Source: With information from Infobae and El Colombiano
