Maasinhon Apprehended in Iran

MAASIN CITY, July 9, 2010 Thirty four year old Rodelia Palima, a resident of Barangay Abgao, Maasin City was arrested last March at the Shiraz International Airport in Iran for having cocaine in her baggage.

In an exclusive interview with her parents in Abgao SLT learned that Rodelia left last November for Kuala Lumpur to work as a store keeper in a jewelry shop there owned by her childhood friend Mitchie Cerro Mahait.

Rodelia’s father Rudy claimed it was Mitchie who asked his daughter to fetch the bag from the Shiraz Airport in Iran which she was told contained jewelry for their soon to open branch in Cambodia.

He said they began to worry when Rodelia stopped calling them last March.

“We finally received a call from her last June when she informed us she was in jail for allegedly possessing cocaine in her baggage.”

Her mother Mila told SLT that she had asked President Benigno Aquino to help her daughter because she was convinced she was merely used as a courier by her friend Mitchie who was her classmate at Saint Joseph High School.

“I believe my daughter is innocent. She is a good girl and was a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman for eight years. I don’t believe she was engaged in illegal activities. She was framed.”

She also informed us that she had requested Congressman Roger Mercado for help and that he had asked Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to look into Palima’s case and to facilitate visits from her family member and lawyer while Rudilla was in jail.

We learned later that Attorney Ariel Gatchalian was handling Rodelia’s case. Her mother is also appealing to Maasinhon’s to “Stop spreading rumors that her daughter had already been sentenced to death. She hasn’t even been tried yet and they are telling people she has been found guilty.”

My Daughter is Still Alive!(update)

ABGAO, MAASIN CITY – “My daughter Rodilia’s case hasn’t been heard yet and people here are already spreading rumors that she had already been sentenced to death. Some even claim they saw a TV breaking news lead claiming she had already been executed,” lamented Rodilia’s mother Mila to SLT.

Rodilia was arrested at the Shiraz International Airport in Iran last June for allegedly having cocaine in her baggage which she claimed she knew nothing about.

When we called Mila about Rodilia’s case last Monday (the 19th of July) she said they were still waiting for an update on Rodilia’s case from Attorney Dennis Brigala who is in charged of Iran OFW matters at the Overseas Employment Authority. She said this would include information on when her daughter’s first hearing would be and when they would be allowed to visit her.

SLT also interviewed Mrs. Enry Acedo, the mother of Metchie Acero Mahait’s, the friend Rodelia Palima claimed had asked her to pickup the baggage in Iran which was supposed to contain jewelry for the Mahait’s new jewelry shop in Cambodia.

Mrs Acedo a retired public school teacher from Ichon, Macrohon said she did not believe that her daughter

Rodelia May now have Visitors (update)

The Iran Embassy has granted the Philippine Embassy’s request for visitation rights for Rodelia Palima who was arrested last June at the Iran Shiraz International Airport for allegedly possessing cocaine inside her baggage.

According to Provincial Administrator Jingle Arong this includes visits from her lawyers who will be provided by the Philippine Embassy and the Overseas Employment Agency.

He said many employees at the capitolyo knew Rodelia because she was a member at the Governors Office before she left for Kuala Lumpur. Rodelia an SJC graduate left last year to work at her friend Metchie Acero Mahait’s Jewelry shop in Malaysia. “Rodelia even sent me a Christmas Card last December,” Arong added.

Although many of Rodelia’s friends here were happy to hear she could now receive visitors and had lawyers to handle her case, they believe it is the Department of Foreign Affairs that could eventually gain her (her) freedom. In the end, it may take no less than Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo’s intercession that could free her.

(By Mark Rimas)

Other News

Guinsagon Chairman Killed by bomb. Bomber caught

Young Enage Arrested

VSU Hits Strip Mining

HIV Cases Rising

City Water Crisis to End Soon?

Loquinte Heads LMP

Modern IPHO rising

Ruby Verdict Out Soon

Farmers Slam Quarrying

Solon creates Agri-taskforce

Dengue kills 37 in Eastern Visayas