Rendon Labador, Rosemarie “Rosmar” Peñamora Tan, and the rest of Team Malakas have publicly apologized for their recent behavior in response to a government employee’s social media post.
On Tan’s Facebook page, the team addressed the apology to the mayor of Coron, Palawan, employee Jho Cayabyab Trinidad, and the people of Coron. Tan expressed her regret, stating, “Pasensya na kay Ma’am Jo, sa munisipyo at lalo na po kay Mayor (Marjo Reyes), at syempre po sa bayan po ng Coron, Palawan. Sorry po talaga na parang pinost ko na ‘Never again’ hindi ko po sinasadya na i-generalize po kayo.”
Labador clarified that their visit to the mayor’s office was as concerned Filipinos, not as celebrities. “Gusto ko lang po linawin na pumunta po kami doon sa munisipyo hindi bilang isang celebrity, hindi isang influencer and hindi bilang, lalo na, hindi bilang Rendon Labador, Rosmar nagrereklamo. Pumunta po kami doon dahil bilang isang Pilipino, simpleng tao na nasaktan sa nangyari dahil sa isang comment ng isang servant,” he explained.
He reaffirmed their commitment to helping others and spreading joy. “Babawi po kami at hindi po ito naging hadlang sa advocacy namin na makatulong at makapag bigay ng inspirasyon sa lahat ng taong nangangailangan. Team Malakas po ay magpapatuloy at hindi po kami titigil sa pagbigay ng kasiyahan, charity sa tao,” Labador said.
In the four-minute video, Tan also addressed the potential declaration of them as persona non grata. A Sangguniang Bayan member had proposed a resolution to declare the vloggers persona non grata in Coron.
Tan sought forgiveness from the mayor and conveyed their willingness to accept his decision. “Kung ‘yun po tingin po ninyo na patas na desisyon para sa nangyari, at kung ‘yun po ‘yung sa nagawa po namin, humihingi po kami talaga ng tawad. Pero kung tingin po niyo talaga, maluwag po naming tatanggapin yung parusa po niyo na ‘yun,” she said.
Labador emphasized his regrets for his actions towards Trinidad and Reyes, stating he never intended to be disrespectful. “Mayor, wala po akong masamang intensyon para kayo i-disrespect. Nirerespeto po namin kayo bilang leader ng Coron at saludo po kami sa lahat ng inyong nagawa,” he said.
He added that if Coron declared his team unwelcome, he would bear the full responsibility. However, he pleaded for one last chance to visit the island, having already promised his family a vacation there.
“At sana Mayor, kung makakarating man po itong video, ako na lang po sana ang i-persona non grata dahil nakita ko po ang sinseridad ng mag-asawang Nathan at Rosmar na makatulong,” Labador said.
The apology follows an incident where Labador and Tan confronted Mayor Marjo Reyes over a negative comment from Trinidad, accusing the pair of exploiting the people of Coron for their social media gains. While Trinidad has since apologized, legislator Juan Patricio Eyes has proposed a resolution to declare the content creators persona non grata in Coron.
