Barangay officials apologize to food delivery rider in viral lugaw video
Local officials of Barangay Munzon in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, including the officer who figured in the now viral “lugaw” video, apologized to food delivery rider Marvin Ignacio, who was not allowed to enter the barangay to deliver an order.
The apology video posted on Barangay Munzon’s Facebook page began with barangay chairman Marciano Gatchalian, who apologized for the acts of the involved barangay officials. This was followed by an apology from Phez Raymundo, the officer who was recorded in the viral video insisting to Ignacio that rice porridge was “not essential.”
“Ako po si Phez Raymundo, kawani ng barangay, nakatalaga bilang VAWC (Violence Against Women and Children) desk officer, na humihingi ng paumanhin sa nangyaring viral noong nakaraang araw tungkol po doon sa lugaw sa may Harmony Hills,” said Raymundo.
She continued, “Sa iyo, Marvin (Ignacio), kung na-offend ka sa aking nabanggit, ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin. Kasama na rin po doon yung may-ari ng establishment and doon sa mga Grab drivers.”
Raymundo also apologized to netizens, many of whom criticized the way she handled the situation.
“Hindi ko po gusto na ma-offend kayo. Iyon po ay hindi intentional. Dahil iyon po ay late na ng madaling-araw, napagod na rin po siguro ako at nagkamali ako ng napiling salita na hindi akma sa aking pinapaliwanag kay Marvin, so pasensya po sa lahat at sa publiko,” she said.
Also in the video were officials Rudy Bernardino and Tomohiro Aoki, who allegedly harassed Ignacio and the food establishment while issuing a closure order Thursday night.
Ignacio, who was at the establishment that night, took to social media to plead for help. “Kahina-hinala ‘yung galaw nila. Wala silang kasamang barangay tanod, wala silang mobile—naka-motor lang talaga sila. Tapos ang gusto nila isara ‘yung tindahan dahil meron daw silang memo na pinapakita,” he said.
Bernardino, a team leader of Annex 1 and 2 in the barangay, said he is ready to face possible sanctions.
“Ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin kung may nasabi po ako at sa mga pangyayari. Handa akong harapin ang pagkakamali ko at ang sanction ng aking kapitan,” Bernardino said.
Meanwhile, Aoki said it was not their intention to intimidate anyone.
“Doon po sa nangyari na parang harassment po ang nakita nila ay pasensya na po dahil wala po kaming intensyon na sila ay harassin o masaktan. Ang gusto lang po namin ay maibigay ‘yung papel para may kopya sila,” Aoki explained.
Barangay chairman Gatchalian said the involved officials will face sanctions.
Watch the brangay officials' public apology here:
Banner and thumbnail screenshots from Barangay Munzon Facebook page