Norman Mangusin, self-styled online as Francis Leo Marcos, clarified that the image of him wearing a police uniform was an edited picture, and apologized for any possible violation of the law.
“Para sa kaalaman ang nakikita niyo pong larawan ay edited yan po ginawa ko nung January of 2019, nakatuwaan ko lang tignan ang aking sarili kung ano ba ang hitsura ko, kung sakaling ako’y maging pulis,” he said.
“Ang uniporme na nakikita ninyo ‘yan po ay aking pinicturan habang nakasabit sa manikin sa may ari at sinubukan ko i-edit gamit ang Adobe Photoshop nung January 24, 2019,” he added.
He denied ever having worn a police uniform, especially not in public.
“Kailanman hindi ako nangahas na isuot ang uniporme ng pulis. At lalong hindi niyo ako nakita na naglakad sa kalsada na suot ang uniporme ng isang opisyal. Ni minsan hindi niyo makikita na ‘yan ay aking pinost sa aking social media sa nakalipas na walong taon. Hanggang sa ipakalat ng aking mga basher,” he explained.
Mangusin said he was ready to face the allegations against him.
“Kung sa tingin niyo na ako ay may nalabag na batas ako ho ay humihingi ng paumanhin at nakahandang sagutin ang anumang paratang,” he said.
In another post, a video, he said he was uninterested in engaging with an issue made up by his detractors.
“So what the f*ck, anong pakialam ko, wala naman akong kinalaman diyan, gawa-gawa niyo ‘yan, ‘di kayo mag-check, t*nga. Hindi ako interesado, kung may kaso ako, darating ang abogado ko, finish. Hindi ako pumapatol sa mga edited okay?” he exclaimed.
The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has initiated criminal charges against Mangusin.
“Do not use the PNP uniform for clout. You will surely pay for it,” NAPOLCOM Commissioner Ralph Calinisan said in a statement.
Previously, the Supreme Court fined Mangusin ₱30,000 after finding him guilty of indirect contempt in connection with his withdrawal of candidacy after the Court granted his Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), which declared him a nuisance candidate.
