House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ A. Marcos and Agimat Party-list Rep. Brian Revilla condole with the family of John Paul ‘JP’ Espiritu Pabalan, a 25-year-old PWD youth leader of BBM-Sara campaign, who died of chronic illnesses.
Sandro, Brian visit wake of BBM-Sara youth leader
Offer aid from PBBM, Speaker Romualdez
HOUSE Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos and Agimat Party-list Rep. Bryan B. Revilla spent the first day of their congressional Lenten break condoling with the family of John Paul “JP” Espiritu Pabalan, a 25-year-old PWD (person with disability) youth leader of BBM-Sara campaign, who died March 17 after a bout with chronic illnesses.
Representatives Marcos and Revilla went to Pabalan’s wake at Governor’s Drive Bancal in Carmona, Cavite, Thursday and handed over to the youth leader’s parents, Melchor and Mayumi Pabalan, financial aid from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
“Nakikiramay po tayo sa pamilya ni John Paul Pabalan, a 25-year-old leader ng BBM-Sara Campaign sa Cavite, na namayapa kamakailan matapos ang pakikipagbuno sa matagal nang karamdaman,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Masakit sa amin ang pagkawala ni JP. Malaki ang naiambag niya para mapag-usapan at matigil ang pinsala na dulot ng bullying at bashing sa social media. Maraming salamat, JP. Saludo kami sa iyo,” Speaker Romualdez added.
Pabalan’s story gained the attention of social media during the last presidential campaign after he was “bashed” by supporters of rival candidates for supporting then-candidate Bongbong Marcos.
“Naging BBM supporter po ako noong 2020 – Marami po akong inatendan na orientation via Zoom para makapasa as BBM Youth Advocate. Una ko pong ginawang activity noon ay ‘yung Bring Back Marcos,” Pabalan said in a video posted during the last campaign.
“Nag-enjoy po ako sa activity na ‘yon kasi ipinakita ko iyong pagmamahal ko sa aking inidolo, iyung pagsuporta ko kay BBM at ganon din po kay Ms. Sara Duterte na ‘yong mahirap hindi ka ganoon kaliit,” Pabalan said.
The bashing prompted Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) party to launch the #StopTheHate campaign on social media as part of initiatives to discourage bullying between supporters of rival presidential candidates.
Pabalan, 25, will be laid today, March 24, 2023.
