Blogger Ella is harassed by DSWD

I believe Mon Tulfo. He has been targeted by several entities including Panfilo Lacson and Mike Arroyo for his honest and sometimes brutal opinion on wayward things public officials do to pursue their beliefs. Sometimes these beliefs were not for the common good but for personal vendettas.

Here I am quoting in toto Mr Tulfo's account on the harassment done by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to Ella , the blogger who claimed that goods were stored at DSWD warehouse despite of the fact that people suffering from the recent typhoons needed them badly.

Shortly after Tropical Storm “Ondoy” and Typhoon “Pepeng,” a blogger, identified as Ella de los Santos aka Ellaganda, wrote in her blog about a DSWD warehouse overflowing with relief goods sent by Good Samaritans, both here and abroad.

The goods, which should have been distributed to thousands of calamity victims who needed food, water and clothing, were reportedly gathering dust in the warehouse.

The blog showed photos of a warehouse filled to the brim with all sorts of relief goods.

Media picked up the story from the blog. As a result, the news became not only a national but also an international issue.

This angered Cabral who accused the blogger of being a “publicity-hungry bimbo” in a press statement.

Ella’s blog received insults and threats, many of which could be traced to the DSWD website.

An agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), accompanied by three burly men identified as DSWD employees, went to Tahanan Publishing in Legaspi Village, Makati City, the publisher of a book allegedly written by Ella.

The same group also allegedly went to the Parañnaque residence of the Dolor family, as Cabral was reportedly convinced that Ella was a member of that family.

Cabral would also announce in a news conference that the blogger had taken back her words in a subsequent blog, which was tantamount to a public apology, the DSWD website said.

It was a lie since Ella never did that.

Last week, the NBI announced it was filing a libel case against the blogger on instructions of Secretary Cabral.

The lawsuit has a chilling effect on the blogging community.

It sends the message that online writers and commentators cannot exercise their right to free speech.

What does Cabral stand to gain by harassing the blogger who, I’m told, is 28 years old and about to get married?

The marriage is being put on hold because the family is scared of Cabral.

Photo grabbed from gmanews.tv.