Barangay officials allegedly beat a 27-year-old person with disability or PWD after he complained of not receiving relief goods in Barangay Rizal in Dinalupihan, Bataan. The barangay, however, has a different version of the story.
According to the report of Katrina Son on GMA News “24 Oras” on Tuesday, it was April 3 when the victim learned the barangay distributed relief goods.
But when the relief goods were distributed, he said he was the only one who did not receive anything from the barangay, so he got upset and let it all out by posting on Facebook.
According to the victim, he has a psychosocial disorder and is quick to anger.
“Siyempre po no’ng time na ‘yun, ayun na lang po ‘yung inaasahan kong pagkain sa araw na ‘yon,” he lamented. “Sobrang sama po ng loob ko, nag-post po ako sa Facebook, sabi ko, ‘Ba’t naman ganiyan, namimili kayo?’”
(Of course during that time, that’s just what I expect to eat that day. I was so upset. I posted on Facebook: Why are you choosing whom you’ll help?)
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Barangay officials allegedly beat PWD who complained of not receiving relief goods
Just a few minutes after he posted on Facebook, barangay officials went to his house and took him to the barangay hall where the alleged assault happened.
The victim went on Facebook Live to document the abuse.
“Nag-video na po ako kasi hina-harass na po ako, ang dami nila, mag-isa lang po ako,” he said.
(I took a video because they were harassing me. They were many. I was alone.)
According to the victim, Barangay Chairman Jesus Matitu forced him to delete the video and issue a public apology to the officers.
“Sabi nila, ‘Ginawa mong tarantado ‘yung barangay. Sumulat ka dito sa barangay na hindi ka puwedeng mag-post laban sa’ min kasi papalayasin ka na namin dito,’” the victim said.
(The said, “You make the barangay foolish. Write a letter here in the barangay that you cannot write posts against us because if not, we will evict you here.”)
Barangay officials, however, it took them a long time to give relief to some residents as their stock was running low.
They returned to the victim’s area immediately, but he was already inside his house. The officer added that the victim mocked and cursed them.
They also said the victim had been in the village for less than two weeks. The man also signed on agreement about his public apology with his mother.