9th Division violated policies by manipulating photos – Army chief

Philippine Army commanding general Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay on Sunday admitted that the 9th Infantry Division had violated policies by releasing a manipulated photo of surrendering rebels.

However, Gapay explained that the Army unit had made an "honest mistake."

“It was really an honest mistake on their part, siguro out of... over zealousness na rin. Kasi napakagandang accomplishment nito,” the Army chief said on Super Radyo dzBB.

“Imagine 306 surrenderees. They want to bring out the news. Kaso nga lang out of haste, na-violate nila yung policies natin for press release and even the use for social media,” he added.

Gapay: May mananagot sa nangyaring pag-photoshop sa larawan ng mga sumukong NPA sa Masbate. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 29, 2019

Gapay nevertheless promised that those responsible for the violations would be sanctioned.

“I commend the 9th Infantry Division. It was done in good faith. No intention to deceive or mislead ang public natin,” Gapay said. “Nonetheless, the investigation is underway and those responsible will be sanctioned accordingly.”

The Army’s 9th Infantry Division admitted that its line unit had manipulated a picture of surrendering New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Masbate. 

The division's spokesperson, Major Ricky Aguilar, claimed that there was no intention to mislead; only to protect the identities of the "former rebels."

"In our ardent desire to release timely information, we were not able to double-check the pictures we attached in our press release yesterday December 26, 2019," Aguilar said in a statement.

Aguilar however emphasized that 306 NPA fighters did surrender in Masbate, where negotiations began sometime October 2019. The actual surrender took place on December 26. — Joviland Rita/DVM, GMA News