Army photo of NPA rebels ‘collaged’ – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — The military has apologized for manipulating photos of former rebels, but Malacañang said yesterday that the pictures were just “collaged.”

The Army’s 9th Infantry Division has drawn flak for releasing a photo containing an image of former communist rebels that was apparently superimposed on a picture of firearms placed on a table.

Some users of social networking sites have pointed out that the former rebels appeared to be floating.

Others also noticed that one of the rifles had a masking tape label with the date “18 Jun 2019” even if the surrender supposedly happened last Dec. 26.

Maj. Ricky Aguilar, spokesman for the military division, has apologized for what he described as an “honest mistake” and claimed that his unit did not intend to mislead the public.

Despite the apology, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo has denied that the photo released by the Army unit was manipulated.

“It’s like this. I talked to (Defense) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. He explained that the two pictures were just combined. They were just collaged. Both photos are authentic,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

“He did not say it was manipulated. It was collaged. Combined. The two pictures were combined in one picture. So that’s not manipulation,” Panelo added, referring to Lorenzana.

“We admit to have committed a mistake though by manipulating the picture for the sole purpose of ensuring the safety of the lives of the FRs (former rebels) and their families. We apologize for the honest mistake. We are hoping for your kind understanding,” Aguilar said in a statement issued last Saturday.

Aguilar has claimed that the negotiations for the surrender of 306 rebels in Masbate started in October. The actual surrender, Aguilar said, happened last Dec. 26.

Facts don’t lie

Despite the photo proven to be manipulated, some 306 regular members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) actually did surrender themselves and their guns to the military in Masbate last week, which Philippine Army commanding general, Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, clarified yesterday.

“But one thing remains true, there were 306 who really surrendered with firearms so we can’t (fake) that, and I commend the 9th Infantry Division for that,” Gapay said in Filipino on a radio interview over dzBB.

He explained that when news of the manipulated photo came out, he spoke with the division commander and the battalion commander.

“So it was really an honest mistake on their part, maybe due to overzealousness because this was such a great accomplishment. Imagine, 306 surrenderees. There are regulars in there, militia, supporters,” Gapay said.

He, however, acknowledged that probably out of haste, those who released the photo violated the policies for press releases and even the rules on the use of social media.

“It was done in good faith, no intention to deceive or mislead the public. But nonetheless, investigation is underway and those responsible will be sanctioned accordingly,” Gapay said.

The quest for peace

Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday called on the communists to refrain from committing another violation of the holiday ceasefire, even if the rebels have denied launching offensives against government forces.

Security officials have accused the NPA of carrying out attacks in Labo, Camarines Norte and Tubungan, Iloilo on Dec. 23, the first day of the 16-day truce. The incidents resulted in the death of one soldier and the wounding of eight government troopers.
The National Democratic Front (NDF), which represents the rebels in the peace talks with the government, has claimed that the NPA members did not violate the ceasefire because they only defended themselves from the attacks of the military and the police.

The NDF has also claimed that it has yet to receive copies of the orders directing the military and the police to suspend their operations against the NPA.

Asked to react to the NDF’s claim, Panelo reiterated that communists should avoid staging attacks during the ceasefire period, which started last Dec. 23 and will end on Jan. 7.

“Whatever the reason is, the President let it pass. So they should not repeat it,” Panelo said in Filipino in a radio interview.

Panelo said President Duterte remains open to resuming talks with the communists despite recent incidents involving the NPA. He insisted that Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, who has been on self-exile in the Netherlands since 1987, should come home to the Philippines to meet with Duterte.

“He should come home so they can have a one-on-one meeting. If he does not come here, that means, he is afraid and he is not sincere,” Panelo said. – With Michael Punongbayan