Following Coron mishap: Rosmar Tan, Rendon Labador say sorry

Rosmar Tan and Rendon Labador have apologized to the Local Government Unit (LGU) Coron, Palawan following their heated argument with a Mayor’s staff, Jho Cayabyab Trinidad.

On Monday, Tan uploaded a 4-minute video of herself, her brother Marki, Labador, and their team apologizing to the Coron mishap.

“Andito po kaming lahat para humingi ng dispensa sa nangyari. Alam po namin, mali po ‘yung ginawa namin. Sumobra po kami sa actions na nagawa namin and humihingi po kami ng dispensa gawa ng nagpadaan kami sa emosyon. Tao lang din po kami, nagkakamali po kami and ina-admit din po namin ang pagkakamali namin,” Marki began. 

Tan apologized to Trinidad, to Coron Municipal Mayor Marjo Lopez and to the locals of Coron saying, “Pasensya na po kay Ma’am Jho, sa munisipyo, lalong-lalo na kay Mayor at siyempre sa bayan ng Coron, Palawan. Sorry po talaga na parang pinost ko na ‘Never Again Coron’ Hindi ko po sinasadya na i-generalize po kayo.”

“Nagpadala po ako sa bugso ng damdamin, at ‘yon po ang pinakamaling nagawa ko at humihingi po ako ng tawad. Alam ko pong pagkakamali ko po ‘yon. Sana po mapatawad niyo po ako,” she added.

Meanwhile, Labador clarified they went to air their grievances in the Municipal not as “celebrities” or “influencers” but as Filipinos hurt by the incident. 

The fitness instructor also said this issue will serve as a lesson for their team to be better. It will not stop them from helping their fellow Filipinos, he added. 

“Susubukan po naming baguhin kung ano man po ang pagkakamali namin. Tingin po namin na ito po ay magiging lesson sa amin as a team. We will be better. Babawi po kami,” Labador explained. 

“Hindi po ito magiging hadlang sa advocacy namin na makatulong at makapagbigay ng inspirasyon sa mga taong nangangailangan,” he added.

Addressing the potential persona non-grata status the Coron LGU is considering to give them, Tan said they will accept whatever decision.

“Kung tingin niyo ‘yon po talaga, maluwag po naming tatanggapin ‘yong parusa niyo po na ‘yon.”

Labador also apologized to Trinidad and to Mayor Lopez for his actions. 

“Mayor, wala po akong masamang intensyon para i-disrespect. Ni-re-respeto ko po kayo bilang leader ng Coron. Saludo po kami sa lahat ng inyong nagawa,” he added. 

He also defended Tan and asked to spare her from the potential “persona non-grata” status. 

“Ako na lang po sana ang tatanggap ng persona non-grata dahil nakita ko po ang sinseridad ng mag-asawang Nathan at Rosmar sa pagtulong. Sana ako na lang po ang bigyan niyo ng persona non-grata,” Labador said. 

Ending his statement, Labador asked for a “last chance” to visit Coron as he promised to bring his family to the province.

Their apology came after Coron’s municipal council member John Patrick Reyes shared a draft of the resolution declaring Tan and Labador persona non-grata in Coron, following Labador’s heated confrontation with Trinidad.

Trinidad earlier alleged that the two social media personalities were “using” the people of Coron for their vlog.

According to the drafted resolution, Labador's actions were "disrespectful, inappropriate, and a blatant disregard for proper decorum," while Tan caused “undue distress and embarrassment to the mayor’s staff and were seen as reflecting negatively on the office she represents.”

In legal terms, “persona-non grata” refers to the practice of prohibiting a person from entering a specific territory. 

— Jade Veronique Yap/LA, GMA Integrated News