Viral Photo of Middle-Aged Woman on Night Patrol in Pasuruan: Village Head Clarifies

The internet was abuzz with a photograph of a middle-aged woman taking part in a night patrol at a community security post in Watuagung Village, Prigen District, Pasuruan Regency. The Village Head of Watuagung has now provided an explanation.

Village Head Didik Hariyanto confirmed that the woman guarding the post in Watuagung Hamlet was indeed a resident. However, he stressed that the viral narrative was not entirely accurate.

“What is circulating on the internet is not completely true. As soon as the news went viral, I immediately sought clarification from the neighbourhood head and the parties directly involved in the patrol there. I wanted to hear explanations from both sides,” Didik said.

Didik explained that the results of the clarification showed there was a mutual agreement within the neighbourhood that every household or head of family receives a scheduled patrol shift. This agreement was made for the security of the environment in the village located on the slopes of Mount Arjuno.

According to Didik, the woman in the viral photo is a resident with the initials En, aged 53. Didik emphasised that previously, when it was En’s household’s turn for patrol duty, her children would take part. En, he said, took the initiative to replace her children on this occasion.

“So she was not alone; she was with another woman. The photo actually shows another woman’s foot, but it was cropped out. I will provide the full photo later,” he clarified.