LOLO NARDING’S 10 ‘KAING’ OF MANGOES

AN amicable settlement with an apology and a plea for forgiveness from the 80-year-old man whose case for allegedly stealing some 10 kaing of mangoes went viral in social media last week.

Lawyer James Fernandez of the Public Attorney’s Office in Urdaneta City said the willingness of the landowner to settle the issue amicably is a welcome development for the accused, Leonardo Flores (Lolo Narding), a resident of Barangay Bantog, Asingan and his family.

Fernandez, who assisted Flores in his temporary release after posting his P6,000 bail bond raised by the personnel of the Asingan police, discussed the offer with the barangay chairman.

His family was happy and felt relieved because Lolo Narding had long been pleading for forgiveness, Fernandez said.

It will be recalled that Lolo Narding’s legal woe started when he harvested on April 25 last year 10 “kaing” of mangoes (not 10 kilos as earlier reported). He claimed the tree belonged to him as he planted it but the area was eventually fenced off by the present owner.

He was arrested on January 13 based on a warrant issued by the court. The report about his detention became viral after it was posted by the Public Information Office in Asingan and the local police under P/Major Napoleon Eleccion raised the P6,000 bail bond among themselves.

His arraignment will push through on February 8 and the complainant, Robert Hong, reportedly said he is willing to execute an affidavit of desistance provided Lolo Narding apologizes for his action.

As of press time, financial help, including a kabuhayan package, kept on pouring in for Lolo Narding from well-meaning citizens who sympathized with his plight.

Fernandez said he had advised Lolo Narding’s niece to account for the contributions so he can acknowledge them publicly.

Meanwhile, Fernandez lamented that the judge and the prosecutor received threats and hostile comments from some netizens because of the case, and he had to post his own reaction explaining that both the judge and the prosecutor should not be faulted here as they were only doing their job.

He said the judge even went out of his way to open the court to facilitate the immediate release of Lolo Narding. The court was closed temporarily due to COVID spread.

Meanwhile, police chief Eleccion confirmed he also received threats over the case. “On the part of the PNP, we are not siding with anyone here and we are steadfast in our investigation,” he said.

Hong, truck driver, also hounded by netizens, said his work in a quarry site has been affected too..

Unknown to netizens, an attempt to settle the case amicably reportedly at the barangay level failed because the parties failed to settle their differences and Lolo Narding indicated he was not willing to pay for the mangoes because he claimed these to be his. The barangay record showed he dared Hong to sue him in court. (Eva Visperas)

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