Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3) — Actress Jodi Sta. Maria and Senator Francis Pangilinan’s family, including his daughter Frankie, pledged to pay bail for the Quezon City protesters who were arrested for demanding food and other assistance from the government Wednesday.
Their lawyer, Atty. Kristina Conti, posted on social media, asking for help for the arrested protesters. This plea on Twitter was reposted by Renato Reyes Jr.
The detainees are facing multiple charges and will be needing at least ₱15,000 each in order to get them out of jail by Monday.
Actress Jodi Sta. Maria pledged for four detainees, while Frankie Pangilinan pledged for one. She said in a tweet that her parents Senator Francis and actress Sharon, will pay for the bail of the remaining detainees.
Ilan pa po ang kailangan? https://t.co/jy3O30ul5S
— Jodi Sta.Maria (@JodiStaMaria) April 3, 2020
i’ll sponsor one. please give the details. https://t.co/R5C8Uqzqzo
— kakie (@kakiep83) April 3, 2020
READ: 21 protesters demanding food aid arrested in Quezon City
he twenty-one protesters are residents of Sitio San Roque, in Quezon City, and were arrested Wednesday at a portion of EDSA in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa around 11 a.m.
Some of the protesters said that they have not gotten any help from the local government amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, the Quezon CIty government said that there has been “continuous distribution of food packs throughout the city, both from the local government and the barangays to ensure that affected families are looked after during this crisis period.”
Groups Bayan Muna and Gabriela condemned the “violent dispersal” of the protesters. Gabriela Women’s Party in a separate statement said, “using excessive force and detention will not quell the empty stomachs of Filipinos who up to this day remain denied of the promised P200-billion cash aid for the poor.”
