Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) — A state-owned television network has issued a public apology over publishing a photo that has been manipulated to show the Philippine flag instead of the Chinese national flag in support of a story.

People's Television Network (PTV) posted an erratum on Facebook Tuesday, apologizing for the "inadvertent use of wrong photos" for its story on the Philippine Navy's plan to rescue three Filipino workers who were abducted in Libya.

During its weekend newscast, "Ulat Bayan", on Sunday, PTV used a photo of a sailing frigate with a hoisted Philippine flag. Netizens, however, identified the warship as the Type 054A Jiangkai II-class frigate from the Chinese Navy. In the original photo, it was China's national flag that was hoisted on the vessel.

PTV aired the edited photo in a video to support President Rodrigo Duterte's statement saying he would send a frigate to Libya to rescue the abducted Filipinos, their post said.

The network said it has already sanctioned the video editor responsible for the blunder, and has also warned their producers from committing the same mistake.