Independent photographer Max Abasolo retracted social media claims that the Department of Tourism (DOT) prioritized an image of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco over destination photos for the cover of Philippine Topics magazine.
In a follow-up post, Abasolo clarified he had no direct involvement with the publication and noted his previous remarks were based on personal observations.
He said he is not affiliated with Philippine Topics and did not provide any materials or photos to the magazine. Abasolo said his initial post reflected a personal observation made as an independent contractor who previously worked on creative materials for Philippine destinations.
The retraction follows Abasolo’s initial claim that Frasco appeared on the cover despite his team producing 236,000 photos and 6,500 video materials from shoots across various Philippine regions.
Abasolo has since deleted the post containing those allegations.
The DOT dismissed the photographer’s initial statements as false and misleading. The agency clarified that Abasolo was never contracted by the department in connection with the magazine.
DOT officials said Philippine Topics is a privately-run publication and not an official government magazine.
The agency said editorial decisions, including the choice of the cover, were made independently and without direction or coordination from any government office.
