Palawan LGU Denies Neglecting and Leaving Philippine Looper Ferdinand Dela Merced Hungry
PALAWAN — The local government of Bataraza responded to the accusations made by self-proclaimed “Philippine Looper” Ferdinand Dela Merced, who claimed he was neglected and left hungry after joining the parade for the town’s 62nd Founding Anniversary celebration. According to the Municipal Tourism Office, the claims are untrue, emphasizing that Dela Merced was treated properly and fairly, just like all other guests of the municipality.
Municipal Tourism Officer Junaide Dawili explained that Dela Merced was not prevented from eating or leaving the venue during the opening program on January 26. He clarified that organizers only requested Dela Merced to wait until the guest speakers had finished their speeches before leaving, which did not mean he was being restricted or ignored.
To address his hunger, the tourism office provided bread and water as a quick snack, but these were not consumed. At the time, staff believed the arrangement was acceptable and did not expect it to become an issue later.
After the program, Dawili personally accompanied Dela Merced to a restaurant so he could eat properly. They had a calm and respectful conversation before parting ways. However, the local government later learned that Dela Merced had already traveled to Brooke’s Point to meet a friend. Despite the efforts made to ensure his comfort, the tourism office maintained that he was not deprived of food and that all reasonable assistance had been provided.
Earlier, Ferdinand Dela Merced shared on social media that he missed the concert of Elias J. TV and his band because he felt weak from hunger after joining the parade without breakfast. He also claimed that event organizers focused more on paid guests while he participated without payment, which made him feel overlooked. He said he initially decided to leave for Brooke’s Point due to fatigue and hunger but returned later after receiving another invitation.
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