Malacañang said yesterday that the controversial Philippine Army photo of rebel surrenderees was not a form of manipulation because they just “collaged” two photos to make a single picture.
The PA has been criticized for releasing a badly manipulated photo in which supposed communist rebels who surrendered their firearms were photoshopped into the picture.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana explained to him that two pictures were combined to make a picture.
“Hindi naman sinabi niya na minanipulate. Kinollage. Pinagsama. ‘Yung dalawang pictures, pinagsama sa isang picture,” he said. “So that’s not manipulation,” he insisted.
Panelo said it would be worse if the photos combined were not authentic to make it appear that a lot of rebels surrendered to the government.
However, a Facebook user traced the photo used to an event that took place in 2017. Netizens also pointed out that one of the guns seen in the photo was labeled “18 Jun 2019.”
The PA has apologized for editing the photo, saying they just wanted to protect the rebels who surrendered. They, however, stood by their story that the surrender took place a day after Christmas.
Despite the apology, Lorenzana ordered an investigation on the issue, saying the incident was unacceptable as it undermined the efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines against the communist insurgency in the country.
(Argyll Geducos)
