Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Friday shed light on the reported harassment of police officers to a widow Bayambang, Pangasinan onion farmer days after she testified at a Senate hearing.
In an interview during Dos Por Dos, Azurin clarified that the Bayambang cops only came to the house of Merlita 'Merly' Gallardo to validate some information regarding the death of her husband, Roger Ragos Gallardo.
He said the police officers heeded to the order of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Bayambang, Pangasinan.
"Humihingi kami ng paumanhin kung hindi po nagkaintindihan ang ating kapulisan doon sa intensyon na pagpapapirma kay Nanay Merlita. Humihingi kami ng paumanhin kay Nanay Merlita at sa kaniyang pamilya kung nagkaroon ng kaguluhan o kalituhan," Azurin said.
During Monday's Senate hearing on soaring onion prices, Young Farmers Challenge Club of the Philippines Inc. President Jerome Laceda revealed that Nanay Merly's husband committed suicide due to massive income loss in onion farming.
Laceda also said that four other farmers in the same province also took down their lives.
According to Azurin, the Bayambang cops only asked Nanay Merly to sign the affidavit clarifying some information she testified at the Senate such as the exact date of Roger's death.
"Unang una, gusto ma-clarify ay kailan po ba namatay 'yung asawa ni Nanay Merlita? Dahil ang lumalabas sa kaalaman ng ating kapulisan ay namatay po ang asawa niya noong Jan. 2021. Parang pinagtutugma lang po na hindi po ngayong taon o noong nakaraang taon namatay 'yung asawa niya. Ayun po 'yung isa sa nilalaman ng pinapapirma kay Nanay Merlita, actually," he explained.
"Gusto din malaman ng DILG through the PNP kung totoong lima nga po 'yung parang nababanggit na nagpakamatay sa bayan ng Bayambang. Lumalabas naman po [sa talaan ng PNP] na si Kagawad Gallardo lang ang namatay sa panahon na iyon," Azurin added.
The PNP Chief also denied that the cops were trying to persuade Nanay Merly to recant her statements.
He added that the affidavit was just part of documentation.
Azurin further assured Nanay Merly that the Bayambang cops will not disturb Nanay Merly and her family unless she will seek help from them.
