News Roundup 28 April 2022
Apr 28, 2022 • 5 min Read
Sumilao farmers reach Metro Manila in march to carry Robredo to Malacañang | PHILSTAR.COM – After traveling mostly on foot for over 4,000 kilometers for 40 days, the march of farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon in support of Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid reached Metro Manila early Thursday morning. The group of 10 Sumilao farmers and 10 more land tillers from Banasi, Camarines Sur — their number representing Robredo’s number on the ballot — arrived in Parañaque City where they were welcomed by the independent presidential candidate’s eldest daughter, Aika Robredo. “Sa ating mga magsasaka, taos-pusong pasasalamat po mula sa aming pamilya sa pakikibaka at paglalakad muli hindi po namin inaasahan. Noong 2016 sinamahan niyo kami,” Aika told the farmers. (To our farmers, our family is sincerely thanking you for fighting and marching again, which we did not expect.) This is the third time that Sumilao farmers marched to Metro Manila. In 2007, they marched to Malacañang along with Robredo in their fight for their ancestral lands. Nearly a decade later, they were marching again — this time in support of the then Camarines Sur representative’s vice-presidential bid. Now that Robredo is running for the coveted seat in Malacañang, the Sumilao farmers, whom she helped reclaim their land in court, mounted another march in the hopes of carrying her to the highest elective office in the country. Bajekjek Orquillas, one of the Sumilao farmers, said they chose to back Robredo for president not only because she helped them, but also because more farmers need her help. “Kailangan pa ng tulong ng marami pang magsasaka na kagaya namin,dahil gusto namin na iyong nakamit naming tagumpay ay makamit din ng mga kapwa namin magsasaka,” Orquillas said. After meeting with Aika, the farmers proceeded to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, Parañaque where they were greeted by the vice president’s running mate, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, and his wife, Sharon Cuneta. The farmers linked arms with Pangilinan and Cuneta and marched into the church compound, where they were blessed by a priest.
Facing separate drug rap, Kerwin Espinosa recants allegations vs De Lima | PHILSTAR.COM – Defending himself in a separate criminal rap at the Department of Justice, confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa retracted his allegations against Sen. Leila de Lima and said he had no dealings with the detained lawmaker. Lawyer Raymund Palad confirmed to Philstar.com that his client has signed and subscribed to a counter-affidavit where he claimed he was “only coerced, pressured, intimated, and seriously threatened by the police” during Senate hearings in November and December 2016. Espinosa also said statements he made against the detained senator werethe result of pressure and coercion. Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento however asserted that Espinosa’s recantation will not have any effect on the DOJ’s case against De Lima. “Di siya witness ng prosecution. Wala because di namin sya witness,” he said. (He is not a witness for the prosecution. This has no effect since he is not out witness) De Lima’s lawyer Filibon Tacardon said that Espinosa’s recantation shows that testimony and evidence against the detained senator was fabricated. “We have always believed that no matter the lies perpetrated by coerced witnesses, in the end, the truth will still come out,” he said. “We hope that other witnesses will also come out and confess how they were intimidated, coerced, and bribed into making false testimonies against the good senator and if possible, name those who actively participated in coercing them to come up with such ridiculous narratives against the good senator.” De Lima was originally charged with three drug cases, over her supposed hand in the proliferation of drugs in the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary. She has been acquitted in one case and has two pending cases before the Muntinlupa courts. Palad told Philstar.com in a phone call that the counter-affidavit was part of their defense to a criminal complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation after Espinosa was removed from the Witness Protection Program.
Baguio mayor apologizes to Jillian Robredo for heckling incident | INQUIRER.NET – Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Wednesday apologized to Jillian Robredo, the youngest daughter of Vice President Leni Robredo, after she was heckled at the Baguio City Public Market. “We are sorry that incidents like this took place. Rudeness has never been a standard conduct of Baguio folks. We can assure Ms. Robredo that such a physical outburst by that person is not representative of Baguio’s legendary hospitable conduct, especially to visitors and guests,” Magalong said in a statement. Baguio residents, according to Magalong, “are by and large amiable, warm, and sincere in their ways,” especially as the city is a popular tourist destination. “We sincerely hope that Ms. Jillian and her team of supporters will regard this unfortunate incident as purely an isolated one that took place in a momentary outburst of political misdemeanor,” he added. This came after video footage of the youngest Robredo daughter doing a face-to-face campaign in Baguio City went viral on social media after an unknown individual shouted at her for causing congested pathways in the market. “To the Vice President’s daughter and to other visiting candidates and their supporters, do accept our heartfelt regrets over this incident. We treat everyone with utmost fairness, with nothing but the very best experience our visitors can have while in our midst,” Magalong further said.
