Janno Gibbs seeks police apology over leaked Ronaldo Valdez video 

Janno Gibbs and his family on Monday urged the police personnel involved in the leak of a video showing his father Ronaldo Valdez's body to issue a public apology. 

At a press conference, Gibbs’ lawyer Lorna Kapunan said that the investigating police officers, as well as their superiors, were directly responsible for the leak.

Gibbs said the video began circulating on the same day his father died. According to him, a police officer from the nearby station who was the first to arrive took the video. 

“Kapag ongoing investigation, dapat walang leakage. Meron tayong privacy ng family, meron din tayong confidential data information. So, mishandling talaga… Remember, this is the very same day na in total shock pa ang family and then nadagdagan pa ng insensitivity ng pulis,” Kapunan said. 

(When there’s an ongoing investigation, there should be no leakage. We have family privacy and we also have confidential data information. There was really a mishandling... Remember, this was the very same day when the incident happened, and the police’s insensitivity just made it worse.) 

“It must be with the same prominence na mag-apologize sila. Kung kinalat nila ang video sa public o nag-leak sila ng video, with the same prominence, the apology must be as public and as widespread. Sincere apology ‘yan,” she added.

(They should apologize in the same prominence. If they spread or leaked the video, the apology must be as public and as widespread. That's a sincere apology.) 

Gibbs said that though he and his family were traumatized by what happened, they will not file legal action.

The actor also became emotional when he named and called out certain vloggers who made misleading posts about his father’s passing.

“Ganito na ba kababa, ka-desperado ang mga vloggers for likes and views. At the expense of our lives, my father’s reputation, my family, ganon na ba talaga ka-desperado?” he asked.

(Are these vloggers desperate for likes and views? They became so desperate at the expense of our lives and my father’s reputation.) 

“Sa kanilang lahat… pati sa lahat ng netizens na nag-share at nagpasa ng video [to the vloggers and the netizens who shared the video], I want to say, shame on you or better yet, f_ck you. I think that’s the better statement,” he added.

In December 2023, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that two policemen were relieved from their posts over their alleged involvement in the leak of the video showing Valdez's body. 

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said the two were the first responder and the responder's station commander. She said they could face administrative and criminal complaints.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has also ordered the city’s police force to investigate the personnel involved in leaking the video, and implement the necessary sanctions to those proven responsible for the spread of the video.

Valdez, one of the country's most acclaimed and popular TV and film actors, passed away on December 17 at the age of 76. — BM, GMA Integrated News