Model apologizes for using cop's card vs traffic citation

MANILA, Philippines — The model for a men's magazines who irked netizens for using a police official's business card to get away from being cited for violating the traffic coding scheme apologized on Facebook on Wednesday.

In her statement, which was apparently deleted shortly afterwards, Alyzza Agustin claimed she is not personally acquainted with Philippine National Police (PNP) Director for Plans Chief Superintendent Alexander Ignacio.

"I would like to apologize to everyone who was affected and offended by my post, fellow motorists, Director Alexander C. Ignacio and his family and the PNP institution as a whole," Agustin said.

"I was just overwhelmed by that moment because I was caught in traffic for hours coming from work. I would like to make it a point that I do not know Director Alexander C. Ignacio personally," she added.

Agustin claimed in an earlier post that went viral that she used Ignacio's business card with a signed dedication to avoid being caught by traffic enforcers in an undisclosed location.

Screenshot of Agustin's Facebook post, as seen on Newsgraph

"Nahuli na naman ako dahil coding, but because of you, Boss Alex, wala nang huli-huli," Agustin said in an earlier Facebook post that went viral. "Thank you so much as napaka-useful mong card with matching dedication pa #happykid."

Screenshots of the posts were preserved online by a motoring magazine site.

Ignacio, meanwhile, denied personally knowing Agustin and said she is not his "executive assistant" as suggested in the dedication.

"There is no such position in my office," Ignacio said in a statement. "I do not give my business card to those who request it."