Arnel Takyawan, farmer from Antipas, North Cotabato, was injured during the dispersal on April 1 in Kidapawan City. (Photo by Ron Clarion)
KIDAPAWAN CITY – The minute when Arnel Takyawan was able to walk with crutches, the police transferred him immediately to the City Hall gymnasium from a nearby private hospital, five days after he was shot at the ankle during the police dispersal against drought-stricken farmers last week.
Takyawan, a farmer from Antipas town said, “It still hurts. The blood comes out of the wound as I try to exert force. It has already produced foul odor.”
Takyawan is among the many protesters who are being detained while recuperating from their injuries.
Authorities charged 79 individuals of direct assault.
“At first, the police guarding me at the hospital noticed I had trouble using the crutches and that I could not walk on my foot. But as soon as I started to learn using the crutches, the police rushed to transfer me to the gymnasium,” he said.
Sleeping was difficult as wounded detainees at the gymnasium slept on wooden benches and folding beds.
“I should have stayed in the hospital because it is difficult for me to walk,” he lamented.
Takyawan said because there were no nurses or medical staff on standby, they had to ask the police to attend to their needs.
“Changing of wound dressing would be delayed,” he said.
On Friday, 17 farmers were ordered to be transferred to provincial jail. Takyawan could have been one of them.
He said he was asked if he could manage to walk so that he will be brought to jail, but he pleaded that he be given more time as he is still unable to put his wounded foot on the ground.
Norma Capuyan of Apo Sandawa Lumadnong Panaghiusa told Davao Today that among those charged, 11 are admitted at the city’s hospitals, while two are admitted at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
Capuyan said the hearing for their motion to reduce bail from P12,000 to P2,000 will be heard on Monday, April 11.
Two of the detainees have already been released on bail.
Discharged but still suffering
For her part, Germa Lumondang did not think her 18-year old son, Victor Lumondang Jr., was well enough to be discharged from the hospital and transferred to the gymnasium last Friday.
Victor got multiple gunshot wounds on the neck and both of his thighs and one arm during the April 1 bloody police dispersal. He underwent an emergency neck surgery and was hospitalized for a week.
“Looking at my son, I can tell that it is not yet the right time to discharge him from the hospital because he could barely move and he has difficulty eating. He could not walk properly and he continues to feel numbness in his arm,” Germa said.
Although fearful her son was still sick, she said they followed police orders and transferred to the gymnasium.
Victor slept on a folding bed with only his clothes wrapped in a plastic bag as his pillow.
“At the hospital he was taken cared of but our problem now is how will he recover if he cannot continue to take his medicines? He throws up medicines and hurts his neck wounds in the process,” Germa said.
She appealed for support for his son’s continued medication for faster recovery. (davaotoday.com)
