Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. has ordered an investigation into the alleged harassment of local policemen in Pangasinan on onion farmers in the province.
In a statement, Abalos directed the DILG Region 1 and DILG Pangasinan offices to submit a report about the incident involving policemen in the town of Bayambang.
“Mataas ang respeto namin sa mga magsasaka dahil mahalaga ang papel na ginagampanan nila sa seguridad ng pagkain at maayos na nutrisyon ng ating bansa (We have high respect for the farmers because they play an important role in the country’s food security and proper nutrition),’’ Abalos noted.
“Kaya asahan ninyo na kaisa ninyo ang DILG sa adhikain ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. para sa sektor ng agrikultura, kasama na ang pagtutok sa mga programang ikauunlad at aalalay sa mga magsasaka (That is why the DILG is one with you in the aspiration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the agriculture sector including focusing on the programs that will develop and assist the farmers)”, he added.
Abalos also called on the authorities to observe at all times the rule of law and protocols in conducting investigations to prevent sowing fear among concerned individuals.
He stated that the result of the DILG’s investigation will then be submitted to Senator Imee Marcos and the public to determine what really transpired during the supposed incident.
In a GMA News report, on Friday, Jan. 20, Merly Gallardo, an onion farmer, appeared at a Senate hearing and claimed that policemen from the Bayambang Municipal Police Station visited her house multiple times, asking her to sign a statement in connection with the death of her husband.
“May kaunting mali. Sinabi doon hindi nalugi si tatay (There was a little mistake in the statement. It was mentioned there that tatay (husband) did not suffer from financial losses),” Gallardo said.
Gallardo believes her husband committed suicide as a result of financial losses in their their onion production business.
On January 19, Senator Imee Marcos said having received information that the police went to the house of Gallardo and other onion farmers to investigate the reported suicide of five farmers.
The senator disclosed that the farmers were being forced to sign a document indicating that they were retracting their statements made during the Senate investigation on high onion prices.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already apologized over the incident, as it explained that the visit of the local policemen was based on the request of the local government unit to verify reports of at least five suicide incidents involving onion farmers.(Chito A. Chavez)