Chilean embassy says it will no longer file charges against photo plagiarist

The Chilean Embassy in Manila has decided not to press charges against amateur photographer Mark Joseph Solis after he personally met with Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga to apologize for submitting somebody else's work as his own to win the photo contest sponsored by the embassy.

In a report aired on "24 Oras" Wednesday, Mayorga said the embassy will no longer take any legal action against Solis, who recently admitted he committed plagiarism to win the Calidad Humana National Essay Photography Competition.



The 22-year-old, who is studying for a Master's degree in Public Administration at the UP-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), admitted that he used the photograph of Brazil-based social worker Gregory John Smith for the contest.

Solis later apologized to Smith in a letter, saying that his youth, inexperience and "inability to see the repercussions" of his actions, as well as the prize money and the chance to go abroad, led to what he called his "regrettable lapse [in] my judgment."

In an interview with GMA News Tuesday, Solis said he was forced to commit plagiarism due to financial troubles.

Mayorga said Solis met him together with his mother, who has appeared on television to apologize on her son's behalf. The ambassador added that the 22-year-old UP graduate student has returned the mobile phone he received as part of the prizes he won from the competition.

"I told Mark, 'Mark, change. Show us you can change. And if you achieve it, you will be an example here in the Philippines of redemption for other people with negative attitudes," Mayorga said.

The Embassy of Chile has already revoked the $1,000 cash prize and a free trip to Chile and Brazil that it granted to Solis. Mayorga said these will be awarded instead to medardo Marquez, who placed second to Solis in the competition.

The Office of the Presidential  Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said in a statement posted on its website that it is conducting its own investigation to determine whether Solis also plagiarized the photo he submitted to win its 2011 "Say Peace" contest.

In a television report, Solis admitted that he submitted another photo that was not his own for the contest.

"If proven guilty, OPAPP will not hesitate to exercise legal options to rectify the wrong done by Solis," the government agency said. — Xianne Arcangel/VC, GMA News