Coron, Palawan is considering declaring vloggers Rosmar Tan and Rendon Labador persona non-grata following a heated argument with Mayor’s staff, Jho Cayabyab Trinidad.
Draft Resolution and Legal Basis
Municipal council member John Patrick Reyes shared a draft resolution on social media proposing the persona non-grata status for the vloggers. The resolution cites their “disrespectful behavior, negative publicity, incitement to conflict, and violation of Republic Act No. 10951 (Property and Damage Penalty Adjustment Act), Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code, and Republic Act No. 11313 (Safe Spaces Act).”
The resolution describes Labador’s actions as “disrespectful and inappropriate,” while Tan’s behavior allegedly caused “undue distress and embarrassment” to the Mayor’s staff, reflecting negatively on the office she represents.
Incident Overview
The controversy arose after Trinidad accused Labador and Tan of exploiting Coron residents for their vlog. Trinidad’s June 14 Facebook post criticized the vloggers for making locals wait for an hour and using the Mayor’s staff without compensation.
Labador responded by confronting Trinidad in a video posted on his social media, showing a heated argument with Trinidad. The video went viral, further escalating the situation.
Statements from Tan and Labador
Tan explained on Facebook that they coordinated with Coron officials, which accounted for the police and staff presence. She noted the large crowd forced them to leave prematurely due to safety concerns.
Labador, in an Instagram Stories post, requested that the Mayor and LGU of Coron not involve Tan in the persona non-grata issue, offering to accept the status himself. He emphasized his accountability and commitment to defending what he believes is right.
Next Steps
Coron Municipal Mayor Marjo Reyes announced an ongoing investigation into the matter, calling for relevant documents and complaints to be gathered for appropriate action. The resolution declaring the vloggers persona non-grata is expected to be approved after the June 24 regular session.