The mug shots of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made its way to the media and the internet.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s right to privacy was violated when her mug shots were leaked by the authorities and even published by the media.

“When the mug shot of the accused is taken, could it be a violation of her personal right to privacy if this is published? The answer is yes,” Senator Santiago told reporters on Tuesday.

Sen. Santiago also questioned the newspaper and websites that published Arroyo’s mug shots.

“It is another question whether a newspaper or a website can publish a mug shot,” she said. “It is not a usual, common photograph. It already suggests guilt on the part of the person. What’s more is that it catches the individual at his most embarrassing moment.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson, on the other hand, has a different opinion regarding the mug shots.

“Lahat na mina-mug shot, pwedeng i-release anytime. That’s part of court records. Pag court records, that becomes public document,” he also told reporters on Tuesday in a different interview.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), however, questions the authenticity of the mug shots that made its way to the internet. Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said there were discrepancies with the caption of the official mug shots and the published versions.

“I would like to state for the record that the published pictures are not the authentic mug shot photos of Rep. Gloria Arroyo,” Bartolome said in an interview by TV Patrol on Tuesday.

The PNP Chief likewise said that authorities are currently tracking down the source of the leaked photos.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is currently under hospital arrest at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) filed charges against her for electoral sabotage.