Sitio San Roque residents finally get aid, believe it's because of their protest

Residents of Sitio San Roque in Quezon City finally received on Thursday the long-awaited food packs from local authorities.

Officials of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa and some City Hall staff led the distribution of aid to residents, according to a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz.

“Ngayon lang po, kung hindi kami nag-rally kahapon sa labas, hindi kami nabigyan ng pansin,” said Clara Vargas, a San Roque resident.

She joined her community in protesting along EDSA on Wednesday over aid promised by the local government that they had yet to receive.

Chaos ensued after police nabbed 21 protesters who are now detained at Camp Karingal.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte appealed for their release for “humanitarian considerations” but police said they will continue to press charges against the residents.

Hours after the protest, President Rodrigo Duterte warned leftists against staging riots as the country grapples with the COVID-19 menace.

“Hindi naman po dapat gano’n, Presidente,” Vargas countered.

“Kasi wala naman po kaming intensyong manggulo. ‘Yung gusto lang po namin [ay] mabigyan naman kami ng pansin, mabigyan kami ng pagkain.” --Julia Mari Ornedo/JST, GMA News