Photo Courtesy of RMN Iloilo
A controversy has erupted involving a vlogger who allegedly mishandled assistance intended for the funeral of a deceased mother and aid for the children she left behind. According to Julie An Almodiente, the aunt of the recipients of donations from an Ilongga in Australia, a vlogger blocked the aid from another group meant for her siblings and the kids in their care.
Almodiente claimed that aside from the assistance sent by Mae Iborg through Wilfredo ‘Pidong’ Talaron of Zarraga News Live Facebook page, a group of motorcycle riders had expressed their intention to help with the burial and home repairs. However, the vlogger, Talaron, reportedly blocked this assistance, stating that they could not be trusted and implying that they should be cautious. In spite of this, the riders still managed to provide assistance amounting to P6,000.
In a separate incident, Iborg filed a complaint against Talaron after he allegedly failed to provide the P61,000 in financial aid she had sent for the burial of Almodiente’s sibling and the support of the children who were left behind in 2021. She was deeply moved by their plight when it was featured on Talaron’s Zarraga News Live program.
According to Almodiente, they received some aid from Talaron, including P4,000, a sack of rice, and grocery items worth P500, which she described as “just instant noodles.” She also revealed that the children were treated to a meal at a local eatery, and the total expenses did not exceed P5,000.
In 2023, Iborg discovered that her P61,000 donation had not reached the family. She subsequently filed a complaint against Talaron, who, according to her, was reluctant to pay. However, when they went to the Zarraga Municipal Station to file a report, Almodiente claimed that the police accused her of being at fault and potentially subject to charges for making the complaint, saying it was not the vlogger’s responsibility to disburse the funds.
Talaron had previously stated that he did not provide the money because Almodiente had abandoned her responsibilities. In response, Almodiente explained that she had not abandoned the children but that her father had taken them because she needed to find work after the promised assistance from the vlogger did not materialize.
