Man allegedly kills self in CDO 'tent city'
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The body of a man who allegedly killed himself was found in a “tent city” occupied by Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro City.
According to Edelyn Bayaras, his brother Jesus Noel Buenvenida was found dead with a rope around his neck.
Bayaras said his brother had been acting strange.
She said Buenvenida began having nightmares after floods brought by tropical storm Sendong ravaged their village.
“Marami daw siyang nakikitang tao na sumisiksik sa kanya. Gusto niyang umuwi na kami sa Acacia,” said Bayaras.
Last January, a Sendong survivor committed suicide inside an evacuation center due to depression.
Meanwhile, a man was arrested recently in Capitol Grounds for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old girl inside one of the tents.
Because of these incidents, experts advised authorities to continue stress debriefing programs for the victims of the calamity.
Most of the victims who lost their homes are beginning to lose hope because their future remains unclear.
“Ang isyu sa mga tao hindi na about the flood, [kung hindi] living in the tent, questions about relocation. Let’s move on, let’s start looking for jobs,” said psychologist Dr. Benson Go.
Some of the evacuees are undergoing stress debriefing at the Consolacion Elementary School to help treat their trauma. -- Report from PJ dela Peña, ABS-CBN News Northern Mindanao

