Team Malakas issues public apology after viral incident in Coron
Rendon Labrador, Rosemarie "Rosmar" Peñamora Tan, and the rest of Team Malakas have issued a public apology in response to their behavior towards a government employee's social media post.
On Tan's Facebook page, the entire Team Malakas sat down to apologize to the mayor of Coron, Palawan, employee Jho Cayabyab Trinidad, and the people of Coron.
"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," Tan said. "Nagpadala po ako sa bugso ng damdamin at 'yun po yung pinaka maling ginawa ko and humihingi po ako ng tawad."
Labrador clarified that their purpose for going to the mayor's office wasn't as a celebrity but as a concerned Filipino.
"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 Labrador, 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 team's dedication to helping others and spreading joy.
Labrador said, "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."
In the four-minute video, Tan also addressed the issue of persona non grata. That weekend, a Sangguniang Bayan member proposed a resolution to declare the vloggers persona non-grata in the municipality of Coron.
Tan sought forgiveness from the mayor while conveying 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," the entrepreneur said.
Labrador emphasized his regrets for his actions to Trinidad and Reyes, saying 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," the controversial "motivational speaker" 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," Labrador said.
"Ako na lang po bigyan ninyo ng persona non grata at hiling ko po na sana kung ito man po ay matutuloy, gusto ko po hiling sayo mayor na bigyan niyo po din ako ng pagkakataon na makadalaw sa Coron dahil po ay naipangako ko po sa aking pamilya na ipapasyal ko po sila sa Coron para makita ko po silang masaya."
Over the weekend, Labrador and Tan stormed the office of Coron Mayor Marjo Reyes to air their displeasure over a negative comment they had seen online from Trinidad.
Trinidad accused Tan and Labrador, who were in town for a charity event, of exploiting the people of Coron for their vlog and social media gains. The former has since issued a public apology but legislator Juan Patricio Eyes proposed a resolution to issue the content creators persona non grata in Coron.