Robredo cites Bongbong anew for her hardships as VP

Vice President Leni Robredo once again pointed at former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., her toughest rival during the 2016 polls, for the hardships she has been enduring as she performs her sworn duties.

She made the remark before a gathering of several members of multi-sectoral groups who came Thursday at Office of the Vice President to see her and to express their support.  

Her audience on that day included representatives from Akbayan, People Power Volunteers for Reform, and Change Politics Movement, whom she said fought for democracy amid the country’s “dark” experience.

“Naiintindihan po natin ‘yan. Alam natin na marami tayong mga pinagdadaanan na mahirap. Halimbawa po sa akin, alam n’yo naman siguro kung gaano kahirap,” she said.

“Noong eleksyon maraming naninira sa ating katauhan, pero kayo nanindigan dahil kayo ang mas nakakaalam kung sino tayo. Pero inaasahan po natin na pagkataops ng eleksyon, mahihinto na lahat at magtratrabaho na tayo, kaya lang pagkatapos ng eleksyon, mahirap po ata talagang kalaban ang Marcos.” 

Robredo lamented that Marcos still cannot accept his defeat, and in his bid for power he is dragging the country down.

“Siguro kung hindi Marcos ang kalaban natin, hindi naman ganito kagulo pero alam po natin na walang pagtanggap ng pagkatalo pero parang dinadamay ang buong bansa dahil ayaw lang tanggapin ang pagkatalo. Iyong sa atin po nalulungkot tayo pero sadyang may ganoon na kailangan nating harapin,” she said.

The Vice President earlier said Marcos may be involved in what she considers as a “concerted” online attacks against her. 

The former senator, son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr, is questioning Robredo’s victory through an ongoing electoral protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Robredo is also facing a possible impeachment, with some of her adversaries accusing her of "shaming" the nation through "false representation" when she alleged, in her video message presented at a United Nations-led human rights forum, that there are "irregularities" in law enforcement,  including the police's alleged "palit-ulo" scheme.

Source : GMA

The story behind selfless father in viral photo

MANILA -- A photo of a scrawny man watching his daughters enjoy a fried chicken meal in a popular fast-food chain recently went viral on social media, garnering thousands of likes and shares from people who were touched by the iconic image that depicts selfless love. 

The photo was taken by Jhunnel Sarajan, a real estate professional, who returned the following day to get more details about the family as people expressed interest to help. 

In his conversation with the man in the photo, Sarajan found out that he is a stroke victim and a single father to his two kids. He also shared details on how to help the family, including the phone number of JR Arebuabo, the man's uncle. 

ABS-CBN News looked for the man and his two children. We found them in a slum area in Barangay 61 in Tondo, Manila. 

Ryan Arebuabo, the man in the viral photo, lives in a 4-square-meter shanty made of used plywood and rusty iron sheets. Hanging just beside the worn out door is a portrait of Arebuabo's priceless possessions, his two children Rose May and Rose Ann.

he 38-year-old had a stroke attack four years ago, back when he was still selling boiled corn in the neighborhood. He said he never underwent therapy sessions, and his last visit to the doctor was three years ago. 

Due to his condition, Arebuabo was unable to work for months after he was released from the hospital. Half of his body was paralyzed, and he had a hard time speaking. 

Another tragedy also struck him. His wife left him, taking their two kids with her. 

"Dati sabi niya may tindahan daw siya sa Bulacan," Arebuabo told ABS-CBN News. "Babalik, tapos aalis na naman. Hanggang sa hindi na talaga bumalik. Isinama pa pati mga anak ko."

According to Arebuabo's younger sister Ria, they expected that his wife will leave him. "Alam niyo naman, karamihan sa mga lalaking na-i-stroke ay iniiwan ng asawa," she said. "Kawawa talaga 'yong kuya ko."

Ria said her brother did all he could to convince his wife to return. He even renovated their house and bought a second-hand television to show her that he could support them. 

"Siya, kahit ano pang masasamang marinig niya tungkol sa asawa niya, talagang gusto niyang mabuo 'yong pamilya niya. Tatlong beses nga niyang sinundan sa Bulacan 'yong asawa niya, pero wala talaga," she said. 

According to Arebuabo, a father's duty is not just to provide food on the table. He is also tasked to make sure that his children will achieve their dreams. 

"Gusto ko lang makapagtapos sila sa pag-aaral," he said. "Kahit hirap akong magbasa, tinuturuan ko pa rin sila." 

Arebuabo said he wants to prove to his estranged wife and the rest of the world that he can continue being a good father to his children despite being almost incapacitated by stroke. 

Arebuabo also believes that one day, he and his children will rise from the slums.

Source : http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/03/13/17/the-story-behind-selfless-father-in-viral-photo

Cebu prisoners stripped naked during PDEA raid

Inmates at the Cebu City jail were stripped naked during a joint raid by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Cebu Police provincial office in search of illegal drugs and contraband. Photo by Merlie Dacumos, Cebu Provincial Police Office Handout/ AFP

A photo of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center inmates stripped naked, sitting on the floor of the facility's open court, has gone viral with netizens saying that it was inhumane for Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to leave the inmates unclothed at dawn.

PDEA launched a greyhound operation along with the military and other enforcement agencies, at dawn on February 28. 

They were able to confiscate 80 cellphone units, laptops, bladed weapons, P90,000 cash, and 19 sachets of suspected shabu from the cells of over 3,000 inmates of the CPDRC.

In an interview over Arangkada of DYAB, PDEA Regional Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz said he will take full responsibility for the operation and how it was conducted. He said they launched the dawn raid after Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III told them of text messages he received regarding the presence of illegal drugs and other contraband inside CPDRC.

Ruiz said stripping the inmates naked is just part of their measures to ensure a peaceful operation. He said law enforcers had to make sure that the inmates were not armed to prevent possible riots and no other contraband will be hidden under any clothing.

Ruiz said that only 129 personnel from PDEA and other enforcement agencies were there to conduct the operation. 

He assured that even when the inmates were naked, they were organized when transferred at the open court while the search in their cells and the inventory was ongoing. He also said that he will include the stripping off of inmates in his report, which he will submit to Davide and the PDEA head office.

Ruiz will also include his observation inside CPDRC. Among his observations is allowing prisoners to hold the keys to their cells. He said jail guards of CPDRC had to knock on each cell and ask the inmates to open it up with one of the inmates holding the key.

Meanwhile, CPDRC jail warden Dr. Gil Macato has not issued any statement yet on the operation and the confiscation of contraband inside the facility. 

Macato was not present when the raid was conducted. Davide already ordered him relieved from office and all the jail guards under investigation.

Davide said that since then, he has not received words from Macato. He has also refused to take the calls of the Governor. Macato has been CPDRC's jail warden for only four months.

Source : http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/02/17/viral-cebu-prisoners-stripped-naked-during-pdea-raid

Elderly mother carries disabled daughter on her back

ROXAS CITY - Julieta Lorenzo carries her disabled adult daughter wherever she goes, an image of parental love that has gone viral on Facebook.

The photo and video post, which has been shared 36,000 times and gained 50,000 "likes," shows the 69-year-old Lorenzo with 30-year-old Mary Jane at a bank here.

Mary Jane can’t talk, stand or eat by herself that’s why her mother attends to her constantly. Her family learned of her condition when she was three.

The Facebook photo was uploaded by one Gilbred Cargason Alsagon Jr.

Everyday, mother and daughter walk on an unpaved road and tree roots to get to their home in Bolo village.

Lorenoz's brother, Edwardo told ABS-CBN News that she makes do with her P2,000 monthly pension to provide for her daughter.

Source : http://news.abs-cbn.com/trending/03/15/17/viral-elderly-mother-carries-disabled-daughter-on-her-back