Volume 4, Issue No. 15
OPINION/COMMENTARY
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /
. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .
Our latest as of Wednesday, September 14, 2022
~ The so-called "Captain Walis Tambo," identified by law enforcement authorities as Kene Brian Lazo, has been sentenced to 45 days in prison for his participation in the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol, The FilAm Magazine of New York reported this week. An immigrant from the Philippines now settled in Norfolk, Virginia, he had disguised himself wearing a Superman cape, brandishing a soft broom (walis tambo) for a weapon, and carrying a Captain America shield. Lazo told authorities that he believed the false narrative that the 2020 presidential election was attended by massive fraud and that Donald Trump should have won. His story finds relevance to the Filipino communities in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, and elsewhere, and is worth disseminating. Below is The FilAm Magazine's full account, which is republished here courtesy of its publisher and editor, media colleague Cristina DC Pastor.
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FOR PARTICIPATING IN JAN.6 INSURRECTION AT U.S. CAPITOL
'Walis Tambo' Rioter Gets 45 Days Jail Time
He Stood Out For His Superman Cape, a Broom, and Captain America Shield
By THE FILAM MAGAZINE*
The Magazine for Filipino Americans in New York
NEW YORK - Kene Brian Lazo, the ‘walis tambo’ brandishing rioter who was at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to participating in the insurrection.
He was also ordered to pay $500 in restitution, according to reports.
A court statement says Lazo entered the Capitol after members of the House and Senate, meeting in a joint session to certify Biden’s victory, were evacuated from the Senate Chamber.
(Related stories: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2021/01/filipinos-among-those-in-attempted-coup.html and https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2021/06/captain-walis-tambo-arrested-in-virginia.html).
He faced four federal crimes: “Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds or in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building,” according to the criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Lazo said he believed the false narrative that the 2020 presidential election was characterized by massive fraud and that Donald Trump should have won.
He stood out in the riot because of what he wore: He was draped in a Superman cape and carried a Philippine broom called ‘walis tambo’ with a Captain America replica shield at the tip of the broom handle. He wore a Rodbustars helmet.
Rodbustars LLC turns out to be the name of the building construction and repair business owned by Lazo and his wife, according to tips sent to law enforcement. Filipino Americans on recognizing the ‘walis tambo’ immediately — and correctly — concluded the man was a Filipino.
He told U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper that he lost the family business because of his role in the January 6 riot.
Lazo, who emigrated to the U.S. when he was 8 years old, was arrested May 28 at his house on Herbert Street in Norfolk, Virginia. He is one of more than 800 mostly Trump supporters who have been charged with instigating a riot by forcing their way into the Capitol, overwhelming security and ransacking the legislators’ offices. Many of them, including Lazo, arrogantly posted pictures of their participation in the attack.
*About The FilAm: https://thefilam.net/about-2. (Copyright 2022. All Rights Reserved).
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