Manila: A pre-nuptial photoshoot held at a cemetery in suburban Taguig City has drawn strong reaction from internet users and the armed forces promised to conduct an investigation into the incident.

Local wedding photographers East Digital Studio posted pictures of Filipino couple known only as “Ruskin and Priscilla” to announce the oncoming wedding of the two, but the people involved apparently did not expect that the photo shoot would unleash a storm of reactions from various quarters.

“Tasteless, disrespectful…Not funny,” read some of the reactions posted on the Internet in reference to the June 30 photo shoot.

In its pre-nup photo for Ruskin and Priscilla, East Digital featured the couple in the back drop of white crosses at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a gravesite inside the compound of the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier served as a memorial for American soldiers who died during World War II and like most burial sites is considered a hallowed ground.

In one of the photos, the groom was shown jokingly embracing a cross. In another picture, the bride was raising a glass for a toast. In one of the photographs, the duo cross-dressed with Priscilla wearing the traditional men’s formal Barong Tagalog and the groom garbed in a wedding gown.

The photos were brought to the attention of the military officials who had no idea on how the studio was able to conduct the photo shoot in the area without anybody calling their attention.

Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez, armed forces spokesman, said the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the entire Libingan ng mga Bayani is a public place and taking photos is allowed. However, he pointed out the couple and the photographer should have exercised propriety during the shoot.

In reports, Rodriguez said that the organisers of the photo shoot should have considered the sensibilities of other people as the picture was posted in a medium that can be seen by everyone.

He said that gravesites should not be regarded with jest as they are intended to honour whoever lies in it.