MANILA, Philippines — The Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPO) has been ordered to verify allegations that members of the Bayambang Municipal police have harassed an onion farmer’s widow.
“This Office is in the process of validating the alleged harassment committed by Bayambang MPS (Municipal Police Station), and if the allegations were true, this Office will subject them to corrective measures, and such actions by our colleagues will be not tolerated,” said Police Colonel Jeff Fanged, director of the Pangasinan Police Office in a statement on Thursday.
Fanged said the validation of the alleged harassment was ordered by Virgilio Sison, Provincial Director of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Senator Imee Marcos earlier called on the local police not to interfere with Merlita Gallardo, who earlier testified before a Senate hearing that her husband had died of suicide amid mounting debts.
Marcos said Gallardo was allegedly being forced by members of the Bayambang Municipal Police Station (MPS) to recant her Senate committee hearing statement.
READ: Imee Marcos tells police to stop alleged harassment of onion farmers
During the Senate committee hearing on the rising price of onions, Gallardo recounted the death of her husband, Roger Ragos Gallado.
READ: Losses driving onion farmers to desperation
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo Azurin also directed Fanged to assure Gallardo and her family that the PNP “will not be part of the harassment being alluded to.”
“Likewise, I told PD (Provincial Director Fanged) to ensure also the family of Nanay Merly that the PNP will not be part of the recantation of the statements made by Nanay Merly,” said Azurin in a statement obtained from Marcos’ camp.