(January 20, 2022 – UPDATED @ 2:51 p.m.) – Filipinos on Wednesday raised the alarm over the arrest of an 80-year-old man for allegedly stealing 10 kilograms of mangoes in Asingan, Pangasinan as they lament the continued unfairness in the country’s justice system.
Narding Floro was reportedly arrested in a claimed “manhunt operation” last January 13 based on an arrest warrant from the 7th Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Asingan-San Manuel area released on December 20.
“Pinapitas ko ‘yung isang puno ng manga, wala pang sampung kilo. Ang alam ko, sakop namin. Noong binakuran nila, sinakop naman nila pero tanim ko naman ‘yun,” said Floro, adding he tried to pay for the mangoes but the complainant refused. “Sabi nila bayaran ko ng anim na libo (piso).”
Mag-iisang linggo nang nasa kustodiya ng Asingan PNP ang 80-anyos na si Narding Floro. Inaresto si lolo Narding dahil sa…
Posted by News5 on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Lieutenant Col. Ferdinand de Asis, the spokesperson of the provincial police in Pangasinan, said the officers assigned in Asingan already raised P6,000 for Floro’s bail. But the release papers cannot be processed yet due to the COVID-19 restrictions under the Alert Level 3 declaration in the province.
Many concerned citizens expressed their interest in covering Floro’s bail to let him return to his family right away. After learning that the police officers already covered the bail, some volunteered to provide Floro’s other needs instead such as groceries and financial aid.
Called Asingan Police Station for Bail na si tatay bukas pinagambagan napo ng mga police.
Yung mga gusto maghelp po kay Tatay groceries po or monetary pangkabuhayan sa family nya pwede po.
You can call Asingan Police thru this number po. pic.twitter.com/xPr5hp9YAq
— PLEASE RT PINNED ? (@PlushiesForHope) January 19, 2022
sa mga mas malapit sa asingan frens over there baka pwede niyo tulungan si lolo 4 bayan pa kasi bago ako makapunta sa asingan kaya medyo malayo huhu kawawa si lolo 🙁 https://t.co/29mggvZ3Hm
— Kcarteu (@Kcarteuu) January 19, 2022
I literally wanted to pay the 6k. Kaya persistent ako sa leads. Jusko. Bayad naman na daw ng Asingan Police kasi nagtulong sila to come up with the 6k so kudos to them pero I want to know where is Lolo’s family??? How can we help send money or groceries to him??
— the sassy wallflower (@thsssywllflwr) January 19, 2022
im one town away from asingan and ngayon q lang to nalaman :(( WILL TRY TO HELP LOLO AS MUCH AS WE CAN
— anne | ebbg (@berryhheecart) January 19, 2022
Floro’s case quickly spread on social media as many netizens aired their frustration. Sen. Ping Lacson, a presidential aspirant in the 2022 elections, compared Floro’s situation with that of the other government officials pocketing public funds without getting apprehended.
A TALE OF TWO THIEVES: Police arrested 80 year old Lolo Narding Floro for stealing 10 kilos of mangoes from a tree which he said he planted in what used to be his backyard. Government official X keeps stealing millions in public funds. He is free traveling with police escorts.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) January 19, 2022
Others echoed Lacson’s sentiment and criticized the country’s justice system that easily prosecutes the poor while letting the rich go unscathed.
Some specifically recalled the case of former first lady Imelda Marcos, a graft convict, who was allowed to post bail of P300,000 in 2018. Former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde was also quoted in media reports as saying they had “to take into consideration her age.”
Former senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada were also allowed to post bail despite getting charged in the P10 billion pork barrel scam in 2013. Estrada is running for senator again in the 2022 elections.
Marcos’ son, former senator Bongbong Marcos Jr., also reportedly participated in the illegal scheme, pocketing millions, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Others also mentioned the missing P15 billion involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Until now, no official has been held accountable.
“Lesson learned: Kapag magnanakaw dapat milyon o billion para walang kulong. Justice in the Philippines is truly amazing. Cheers,” said one netizen on Facebook.
our justice system is so fucked up talaga. yung mga magnanakaw na nakaupo sa gobyerno na ninakaw ang pera ng taong bayan pinapalagpas niyo. yung lolo na pumitas ng sampung kilong mangga kinulong niyo? tangina. nasaan ang hustisya para sa mga mahihirap?
— shion’s bff kei. (@mahaepdi) January 19, 2022
yung lolo kumuha lang ng mangga na akala niya sakop pa ng lupa nila, inaresto kaagad. e bakit yung politiko na anak ng magnanakaw tapos tax evader pa, ngayon ay malayang nakakatakbo sa pagka-presidente? justice my ass.
— rie (@enhycrumbs) January 19, 2022
Asan na ung Fair Justice sa Philippines ??? Ang daming politiko ang may kasong graft and corruptions bakit sila nakakalaya? Samantalang yung 10kls na mangga kulong agad?? King ina. Given na may mali si lolo pero ung makulong agad agad. Parang sablay ata un. #lolo #FairJustice
— Kurt Stephen (@kurtstephen28) January 19, 2022
“the justice system is so fucked up, how can one be so cruel to an old man when it’s clearly his pag-aari in the first place. his neighbor should’ve just let it slide since it’s lolo’s naman wtf mangga lang yan hindi ba kayang ibigay sa lolo yan tangina”
— nathashia (@grumpysunoo) January 19, 2022
Floro has been temporarily released from jail this morning after posting bail.
(PM)
Editor’s Note: The story has been updated to include details about Floro’s release from jail earlier this morning.
