MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have already ordered its units to be more “circumspect in releasing photos and information to the public,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said, following the controversy on a manipulated photo for which the Philippine Army already issued an apology.
“The PNP and AFP commands have ordered its units to be more circumspect in releasing photos and information to the public and are already taking appropriate measures to ensure that such lapses will not happen again,” said Año in a statement.
“Huwag nating bigyan ng dahilan ang mga kaaway ng estado na hanapan ng butas ang magandang programa natin para sa ating mga kababayan (Let’s not allow enemies of state to find lapses in the program for rebel returnees),” Año said.
READ: PH Army apologizes, admits manipulating photo of rebel returnees
The photo was released December 26, showing the reported surrender of former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a ceremony in Masbate City.
However, the “returnees” appear to have no shadows, causing netizens to question whether or not the returnees were just edited into the photo.