Lorenzana, AFP chief want sanctions vs. soldiers behind ‘doctored’ photos of rebels

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Noel Clement on Saturday said some members of the Philippine Army may face sanctions over the release of manipulated photographs of the supposed recent surrender of members of the New People's Army in Masbate.

"I have directed the CG (Commanding General) Army to make an inquiry. Sanctions will be meted to those who perpetrated it. This is very serious because it undermines the efforts of the whole Organization, the AFP. The military is doing well enjoying an unprecedented high trust rating from the people. And now this? This action is unacceptable," Lorenzana told GMA News Online.

In a separate statement, Clement said the probe should be "thorough" and that those found to have committed infractions should be punished.

"We uphold the highest standards in reporting and delivering information to the public. And everyone adheres to it as our credibility, no less, is at stake," he said.

In a statement, Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala has acknowledged the admission by the 9th Infantry Division that they failed to double check the pictures attached to the press release in question in their "ardent desire to release timely information."

Zagala, likewise, said they will conduct an investigation and hold into account those accountable for the manipulated photographs.

"We at the Philippine Army Headquarters hold our line units in high regard when it comes to the release of information to the media and the public, and their admission to the mistake is proof of their commitment to the high standards of public affairs principles. We will investigate this matter and hold whoever is accountable to face the appropriate sanctions," Zagala told GMA News Online.

Netizens have criticized the supposed manipulated pictures, with some saying the images could have been "photo shopped" or "doctored."

In their defense, spokesperson of the 9th ID Major Ricky Aguilar has said there was no intention to mislead but only to protect the identities of the "former rebels."

Aguilar said there were indeed 306 surrenderers in Masbate where negotiations began sometime October 2019. The actual surrender, he said, was done on December 26. — MDM, GMA News