Product commonly used as death weapon in suicide: Benguet gov’t pushes ban on lethal herbicide

By Dexter A. See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The provincial government has asked the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority to withdraw from stores in this vegetable-producing province a restricted herbicide which was linked to the death of at least 17 persons two years ago.

Before the chemical product claims more lives, provincial officials said, it should be withdrawn from the different outlets, provincial officials said.

The herbicide is reportedly labeled as Gramoxone and comes in liquid form.
Based on data provided by the rural health units and hospitals in Baguio City and Benguet, the herbicide is said to be the most commonly used substance in suicide cases since 2007.

Only three persons were reported to have survived the use of the herbicide in suicide attempts.

Health authorities said this year has the most number of suicide cases with herbicide as the death weapon. There were 13 victims recorded since January.

Local officials said the increase in suicide incidents is considered alarming, and so there is need for the FPA to withdraw the product from the stores.

The provincial government had earlier created a task force to determine the causes of the increasing suicide cases and come up with recommendations on how to solve the problem.

Although another brand of pesticide and fungicide was used in the suicide cases, it was found out that Gramoxone had claimed the most number of victims.

Provincial and municipal officials appealed to the company distributing the herbicide to offer alternative products in a bid to protect the people.

Earlier, the task force learned that the herbicide was banned in the country and restricted for institutional use.

However, in 2003, Syngeta Co. re-formulated the solution of the herbicide, paving the way for its being re-categorization by FPA for general use.