IRIGA CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Naga Bureau) – In the fashion of an Idol Philippines finalist homecoming or a Miss Universe ticker tape parade, incarcerated Senator will be back very soon in her native Iriga City.

No less than De Lima herself announced on her Twitter page (she has one in jail?) that courts have approved her motion to be furloughed in order to visit her ailing mother.

Sources close to the Senator said that De Lima will be met by throngs of her kababayan (townmates) as she enters the city via a soon-to-banned-from-EDSA provincial bus, escorted by armored cars and an all-female security detail all paid for by Filipino taxpayers.

Following a parade, a mass and program will be held at the steps of the Iriga City Hall. De Lima’s provincemate Vice President Leni Robredo will deliver a eulogy while another Bicolana, multi-awarded singer and actress Nora Aunor will entertain the guests with some of her OPM hits. Full media coverage will be provided by Rappler, Inquirer, ABS-CBN’s Doris Bigornia and correspondents from Time Magazine, New York Times and CNN International.

A special non-working holiday has been declared in the entire province of Camarines Sur, as well as all cities and towns along the route of the motorcade from Quezon City to Iriga.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – ABS-CBN reporter Doris Bigornia is finally breaking her silence over her rift with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Celine Pialago.

The MMDA official filed a complaint to the office ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Division Head Ging Reyes, accusing Bigornia of “pananakit (hurting).”

Bigornia, who has had public arguments and encounters with others in the past, told The Adobo Chronicles  that MMDA, particularly Pialago, is trying to silence her. “I’m a true, tested and veteran journalist. I am entitled to free speech and press freedom,” she added.

Upon learning pf Bigornia’s statement, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa said that Bigornia has no originality. “Those are my lines. Is she trying to steal the thunder from me?”

Ressa is known for spreading misinformation — especially abroad — that the Philippine government is weaponizing the law to silence her as a journalist. She is currently facing criminal charges, including cyber libel and tax evasion.