SMNI legal counsel Mark Tolentino (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

SMNI legal counsel Mark Tolentino clarified on Monday, Dec. 11 that his clients Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz and Lorraine Badoy are carrying out a real hunger strike, and not "intermittent fasting". 

"No, it's not intermittent fasting. Six days, 24/7, walang kain, tubig lang (no solid food, just water)," Tolentino told reporters Monday outside the detention building of Celiz and Badoy at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City. 

The lawyer's statement was in response to netizens who have been ridiculing the two SMNI program anchors for their reported hunger strike that lasts from 6 p.m. to midnight every day. 

But this is inaccurate, according to the lawyer. 

Referring to Celiz, Tolentino said: "Nakita ko talaga na parang lumiit ang tiyan, namumutla kasi imagine, six days na walang kain, tubig lang." 

(I saw that his tummy has somewhat shrunk, he is pale because imagine, six days of no solid food, just water.) 

ALSO READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/11/hindi-yan-hunger-strike-netizens-troll-celiz-badoy-over-6-hour-intermittent-fasting


Apparently, Tolentino tried to convince the two to eat, but to no avail. 

"Kahit ipinapaamoy namin yung mga manok, hindi talaga kakain. Magdadala kami ng lechon, inaamoy lang nila but hindi nila kinakain." 

(We make them smell the chicken, but they really won't eat. We bring lechon, they just smell it, but they don't eat it.) 

Celiz and Badoy were cited in contempt by the Committee on Legislative Franchises last Dec. 5 and ordered detained at the House. They decided to go on hunger strike the next day. 

Tolentino visited the two on Monday morning to get their permission for a Supreme Court (SC) petition he intends to file in their behalf to allow their permanent release "for humanitarian reasons".