CAVITE – Trece Martires Mayor Gemma Buendia Lubigan explained her absence from the city hall during the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) five-minute emergency response demonstration.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III showcased the police’s quick response scheme to President Marcos during the 124th Police Service Anniversary celebration at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

During the demonstration, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who is also the former governor of Cavite, chose Mayor Lubigan’s office in the city hall as the designated alarm location during the demonstration.

The police arrived at the location ahead of the target time, but Lubigan was not in her office.

“Si mayor na lang mabagal sir (It is only the mayor who is slow, sir),” Torre quipped during the demonstration.

In a statement on Wednesday, Aug. 13, Lubigan said the real story in the exercise was the emergency response of the police and not “singling out one individual as the ‘subject’ of the test.”

“At that moment, I was at my residence meeting with constituents and stakeholders on official matters. This is part of the work I do every day as city mayor. The nature of my role is not confined to an office desk or an 8-to-5 schedule. The work of a city mayor is 24 hours a day, seven days a week—in city hall, in the barangays, in evacuation centers, on the streets, or even at home when duty calls,” Lubigan said.

“To my fellow countrymen who may have read the headlines, I ask for fairness and a wider lens: judge public servants not on a single snapshot, but on the totality of their service. I welcome healthy criticism because it comes with the territory of leadership—but let us keep the conversation anchored on facts and the bigger goal: building systems that protect and serve our people better.”

Cavite Police Provincial Office Acting Director Ariel R. Red, meanwhile, commended Trece Martires Component City Police Station for their performance during the drill.

“This outstanding demonstration reflects the dedication, discipline, and efficiency of our police personnel. Their swift action embodies the PNP’s commitment to protecting our communities and ensuring public safety,” Red stated.