CNN Hero robbed at Naia

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CNN Hero robbed at Naia

By Niña Catherine Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – Barely two weeks after being named CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Peñaflorida was robbed Friday as he was stepping out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

Peñaflorida, who founded Dynamic Teen Co. (DTC) and started the novel idea of the “pushcart (kariton) classrooms” had just arrived from a speaking engagement in Hong Kong and was on his way to a concert rally in Makati City.

Rezcel Fajardo, his colleague and a staff member of DTC, said Peñaflorida was about to board a car in front of Naia Terminal 2 at 1:30 p.m. when a woman sidled up to him, opened his bag and took a pouch that contained his hygiene kit.

The suspect

A staff of the Naia police identified the suspect as Molly Fernandez, 52, a resident of San Pedro, Laguna.

Fajardo said Peñaflorida immediately noticed that the pouch was missing and saw the suspect running away with it.

Peñaflorida called the attention of the police who gave chase and accosted Fernandez.

When questioned by the police, the suspect said she found the pouch and had every intention of returning it to its owner.

But police said Peñaflorida was sure he was robbed as he had noticed the suspect trying to get near him outside the airport.

Fernandez will be brought to the Pasay prosecutor’s office for inquest proceedings.

No idea

An employee of the Naia media affairs office said the suspect might not have realized she had robbed the CNN Hero of the Year although Peñaflorida had appeared several times in television interviews.

Peñaflorida has received worldwide accolades for his pushcart classrooms that brought reading, writing and hygiene to almost 1,500 out-of-school children.

He has bagged a $125,000 cash prize from the CNN award which, he said, would mostly go to the expansion of the DTC.

Hero, right here

At around 4 p.m., Peñaflorida, together with reform-minded groups Pinoy Power, Tuloy Pinoy and Ako Mismo, pushed carts loaded with books and learning paraphernalia along Ayala Avenue to dramatize the country’s need for heroes.

Afterward, he proceeded to a concert rally on Makati Avenue in front of the Manila Peninsula Hotel attended by hundreds of people who wanted to pay tribute to Peñaflorida’s heroism.

Fr. Arnold Abelardo, one of the concert’s organizers, said amid the country’s gloom over the Maguindanao massacre, they wanted people to know “we have a hero right here.”

Seen at the concert were Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, celebrity couple Mikee Cojuangco and Robert “Dudut” Jaworsky, Cyberspace character Juana Change, singer Cooky Chua, and bands Spongecola, Session Road and Moonstar 88.


This country is really ****ed up.....

[COMCAM]

grabe, quick hands but not too quick for the eyes

[Motownkid]

Imposible kaayo wala sya kaila ni Penaflorida.. Sa kadaghan tao didto ngano siya gyud ang gi-target..

[beyee]

what a welcome party he got tsk tsk

[misha lang]

hard times really this time.

[elvishtattoo]

gusto maki share sa ka sikat ni Kuya Efren

[haroldjizdeortega]

buhay2 sads manoy dah.

[samsungster]

maayo kay no valuables ang sulod...

[personalmgt]

In Russia Philippines, ROBBERS WELCOME YOU!

[jntio]

welcome gyd... paet