Wednesday, November 22, 2017

BAYAN Member Arrested for Stealing 3 Christmas Hamon de Bola, Blames Renato Reyes for Not Getting Paid

An active member of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) was arrested Tuesday night, November 21 for stealing three pieces of hamon de bola, a favorite food of Filipinos during Noche Buena on Christmas Eve. The suspect was identified as Ambrosio Villegas, 38, a father of 9 children, and a seasonal construction worker from Mandaluyong City.



According to Erwin Pattawi, a security guard of an unnamed supermarket in Mandaluyong, he personally saw Villegas picking up 3 pieces of hamon de bola and immediately put them inside his bag. He said the suspect went directly to the Exit door without buying anything. That was the time he confronted Villegas and found the food inside his bag.

"Sinita ko. Hinanapan ko ng resibo. Walang maipakita. Pag-check ko sa bag, andun ang mga hamon," Pattawi said, noting that he immediately called the police. While waiting for the police, Villegas burst into tears, and begged for forgiveness to the security guard. He told Pattawi that he did it because he has just wanted his children to taste hamon de bola.

“Sabi nya, wala daw siyang trabaho ngayon at wala syang kapera pera. Marami daw syang anak at lahat sila, di pa nakakatikim ng hamon de bola. Maya-maya, sinisi na nya si Renato Reyes, kasi tatlong rally na daw ang kanyang silahihan pero yung pinangakong bayad, kahit daw piso wala.” He added, noting that the 3 hamon de bola cost P525 each.

Apparently, Villegas was referring to BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr, who has been through the years leading protest rallies against the government, and this time the Duterte administration. Allegedly, someone recruited the suspect and his two friends last year to join BAYAN, and was promised to receive P500 for each rally they attended.



Villegas purportedly added that he signed on a logbook as proof of his attendance. However, he noted that his recruiter was nowhere to be found, and could not be contacted anymore. To prove his membership, Villegas showed him a BAYAN ID with his name and photo, signed by Reyes. The suspect is now in jail, but did not grant for an interview.

Contributed by Salvi Dalida

No comments:

Post a Comment