MONTEVISTA, Compostela Valley – A farmer’s wife said her husband in Montevista town, Compostela Valley province committed suicide hours before his “scheduled interview” with military troops on Tuesday, June 8.
Romeo Abucay Gonia, father of five, took his life by taking a rat killer pesticide before lunchtime about 150 meters away from their residence in Purok 6, Mubanda, San Vicente in Montevista town. His brother-in-law found him and was brought to the hospital that day, but Gonia died after two days, early dawn on June 10.
That day, Romeo’s wife, Aresensia said that Romeo left their house at 10:00 am, but was not able to return for lunch up to 1:00 in the afternoon.
“It was already 1:00 pm and he was still not around. My older brother found him with the rat killer pesticide,” Aresensia said.
The rat killer pesticide that killed Romeo is a powder which is used by farmers to clean their farm crops such as corn.
Aresensia said that Romeo never told them anything about his problems or even about his work but she was able to recognize the difference of how his husband acted before he died.
She said Romeo’s behavior changed after the talks from the neighboring village in Bagtok that the Army is looking for him reached them. Aresensia said those who were already interviewed by the military told Romeo that the military was looking for him.
“I asked him, ‘why are you scared? We did not hear of any one getting beaten there’,” she recalled.
Romeo is a member of BaFA (Bagtok Farmers Association) which is an affiliate organization of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Farmers group). Romeo’s group has been operating milling machines and water system donated by non-government organizations.
After that, Aresensia said Romeo was not talking to them.
“He was no longer talking to us, he did not mention any problem,” she said.
“He tried to sleep early,” Aresensia said, adding that she noticed her husband was having a hard time sleeping.
In an independent probe led by Montevista Farmers’ Association (Montefarma) on June 14, the group found out that Romeo committed suicide on the day that he was scheduled to be “interviewed” by the military, 4:00 pm on June 8.
During the probe, it was found out that the farmers were asked of their positions in the New People’s Army.
“Ilang interview kanang, masa daw mi sa NPA. Kung unsa daw katungdanan gisangon sa NPA (Their interview is, that we are masses of the NPAs. And what is our work with them),” a farmer who requested anonymity told the probers.
“They (military) told us that they found our names in a list of farmers they recovered from the NPA after an encounter last month,” the farmer added.
The interviewees were also told to sign a paper which the farmer said was written in English. The Army they said translated it to them and they were told that it would be a proof that they were not physically hurt during the interview.
Montefarma chairperson Jimuel Talpin, said although the farmers were not physically hurt, they suffered mental torture and considered it a form of harassment.
“They continue questioning the farmers of their ranks in the NPA, even though there wasn’t,” Talpin said.
“Even though no one was beaten up, the farmers could hardly sleep on those questions. We want nothing but our livelihod, ” he said.
Talpin said they will continue their probe after Romeo’s burial. (davaotoday.com)
