Television host China Cojuangco was disturbed when someone violently threatened her daughter on Instagram, claiming to get “revenge” on the Cojuangco family, particularly her father Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.
An individual named Angelie Arbuis (@angeliarbuis) commented on China’s Instagram Stories that featured the latter’s daughter, Lucia. She wrote:
“Cute sarap isilid sa sako tapos tapon ilog makaganti naman sa cojuanco (sic).”
“I love your dad because he is my favourite cojuanco (sic).”
China shared a screenshot of the individual’s direct messages and noted that she has already reported the incident to Instagram. However, the image-sharing platform has not yet responded to her appeal.
Some of China’s followers suggested that she file a case with the National Bureau of Investigation.
China is the daughter of Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and Margarita “Tingting” delos Reyes Cojuangco.
The Cojuangcos, one of the most prominent families in the political and business industry, are constantly accused of being “elitists.”
The cases of Peping Cojuangco
The individual on China’s Instagram sarcastically noted that the Cojuangco patriarch is her “favorite” Cojuangco.
Peping has been previously involved in controversies during his stint as a longtime president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
He’s also a board member of Hacienda Luisita Incorporated, the company tagged in the Hacienda Luisita massacre.
Malversation of public funds
Peping’s POC presidency has been questioned by the Philippine Senate in two hearings, blaming him for the country’s poor performance in international sports competitions.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) also charged the Cojuangco patriarch with malversation of public funds in the 2005 Manila SEA Games.
According to then-PSC Chairman Henry Angping, Cojuangco failed to liquidate money from the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Committee Organizing Committee (Philsoc) that amounted to P73, 243,524.86.
Hacienda Luisita Massacre
The Hacienda Luisita Massacre is one of the most notorious cases associated with the Cojuangcos.
In November 2004, farmers and activists protested outside Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac for injustices of land distributions done by the Cojuangcos.
They were violently dispersed by policemen and soldiers through teargas, water cannons and firearms.
In the incident, seven farmers were killed, 121 were injured (including 11 children and four elderly men) and 32 suffered gunshot wounds.
In 2014, families of the victims filed a motion to the Office of the Ombudsman in order to reopen the case. However, the motion was declined.
Up to this day, the victims of the massacre continue to seek justice for genuine land reform.