Lolo, caretaker agreed to settle case over theft of mangoes —Lacson

The 80-year-old man who was arrested for allegedly stealing mangoes and the caretaker of the property in Pangasinan have agreed to settle their case, Senator and presidential aspirant Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Saturday.

Lacson said he went to Asingan, Pangasinan on Thursday and his staff got to talk to octogenarian Leonardo Flores and caretaker and complainant Robert Hong.

"Towards the end of the day, Robert and Lolo Narding agreed to amicably settle their case in court during the latter’s scheduled arraignment on February 8," the senator said in a statement.

Flores was arrested on January 13 and jailed for allegedly stealing mangoes in Asingan.

He was arrested by virtue of a December 20, 2021 warrant issued by Sarah Marcos-Martin of the 7th Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTC) of Asingan-San Manuel.

Information from the police said Flores harvested some 10 kilos of mangoes from a tree near his property, but which he claimed he planted.

The area where the mango tree was planted and Flores’ house have the same owner. The property owner had died while their children were in Manila and abroad.

Only the caretaker lived in the house where the mango tree was planted.

After a week in jail, Flores was released on Thursday after paying the P6,000 bail with the help of police personnel and Asingan residents. 

According to Lacson, Flores was the former caretaker of the property. The senator added that Flores "did steal three (3) sacks of mangoes worth P12,000, not ten (10) kilograms as earlier claimed. He sold the mangoes in the local 'talipapa' and had already spent the proceeds."

Flores earlier said all he really wanted was to sell the fruits so he could buy food. 

Meanwhile, Hong was also working as a truck driver but stopped due to cyber-bullying after Flores' story went viral, Lacson said.

"Robert’s only request is for us to help him rectify the disinformation no matter how unintentional, but unfortunately has put him in a very bad light. He said that he only did what is right under the circumstances and does not deserve the treatment he is getting, mostly from the misinformed netizens and the public. We believed him," the senator said.

Lacson added that the Asingan Police apologized for the matter and took down the story it posted earlier.

The senator said his office will continue to help Hong as he asked for their help.

Lacson earlier commented on the case, saying police arrested Flores but a government official "keeps stealing millions in public funds" and "is free traveling with police escorts. 

Human rights lawyer and senatorial aspirant Manuel "Chel" Diokno said courts should be allowed to impose alternative penalties for individuals found guilty of committing minor offenses instead of imprisonment. 

Labor leader and presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman on the other hand said that the justice system in the country has a ‘double standard’ for arresting the octogenarian over stolen mangoes, but not the rich and the drug lords for their heavier crimes.

Earlier on Saturday, the Commission on Human Rights said it is hoping the charge filed against Flores will be dropped and that an amicable settlement be reached instead. —KG, GMA News