MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained Tuesday that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused were the ones presented to the media on September 9 despite having their faces covered.

This, after the PNP drew flak online for giving "special treatment" on the identities of high-profile inmates such as Quiboloy and ex-Bamban mayor Alice Guo, with some even doubting the identities of those presented to the public.

"Even po 'yung mga ordinaryong tao na naaresto natin ay naka-cover [ang mukha.] We are just being consistent dito dahil may polisiya ang PNP—na base na rin sa mga advisory ng Commission on Human Rights—na ang isang indibidwal ay presumed innocent until proven otherwise. So hindi ibigsabihin na pag may inaresto, siya ay guilty na," PNP Spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo said in TeleRadyo Serbisyo's Issue Spotted.

"Kahit 'yung serbisyo ko ay itataya ko dahil ako mismo ay nandoon bago sila ilabas at nakausap. At ako rin mismo ang kumausap sa kanila sa custodial facility bago sila dalhin," she added.

Fajardo, who is also the chief of the PNP Public Information Office, also said that she personally ushered Quiboloy and his fellow accused to the holding area before they were presented to the media.

"Ako po mismo ang nagpunta doon sa custodial facility at dinala ko sila doon sa mismong holding area at even sila DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos nakausap sila bago sila inilabas doon. Siguradong sigurado ako na sila yon," she said.

READ: Quiboloy to stay at Crame despite court order for transfer -- PNP