Pangasinan police probe ‘harrasment’ of onion farmer’s wife
THE Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 has launched an investigation into complaints by Senator Imee Marcos that some Pangasinan policemen “harassed” the wife of a farmer who allegedly killed himself out of “humiliation” after he went bankrupt due to his failed onion farming business.
PRO 11 Director Brigadier Gen. John C. Chua ordered Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) Director Colonel Jeff E. Fanged to validate the alleged harassment done by some members of the Bayambang Municipal Police Station (MPS) to one Merlita Gallardo, whose husband allegedly committed “suicide” due to losses incurred in onion farming in the municipality.
According to Fanged, they initially acted on the request of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Pangasinan provincial head Virgilio Sison to validate the incident based on a radio report.
The official said that members of the Bayambang Police eventually managed to interview the widow, who claimed that, indeed, her husband “poisoned” himself.
The woman said that her husband committed suicide out of humiliation for being unable to pay their P500,000 debt as well as for losing at least P1.7 million as a result of their failing onion farming business.
Fanged said the woman hinted that “depression and stress” apparently prompted her husband to take his life.
A medico-legal finding showed that the farmer succumbed to death due to respiratory failure secondary to organophosphate poisoning. “Other than this, no other similar incident was recorded,” he added.
However, the official said they are validating the alleged harassment committed by the Bayambang MPS on the farmer’s wife. “If the allegations were true, this Office will subject them to corrective measures as such action by our colleagues will not be tolerated,” Fanged said.
Sen. Marcos earlier called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership to investigate the reported harassment committed by some Bayambang policemen on the farmer’s wife shortly after the latter appeared in a Senate hearing on the controversy regarding the high price and supply of onion in the country.
The elder sister of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said she was informed that Bayambang policemen led by one Police Chief Master Sergeant Eduardo Santiago went to the house of the Gallardos at least five times and tried to “force” her into signing an affidavit which says the testimonies she gave in Senate were all false.
