MAN ‘BEHIND’ TALISAY BLOODBATH ‘HAD MENTAL PROBLEMS’

Archie Bastillas reportedly had a history of illegal drug abuse since he was in high school Bastillas was diagnosed with “mixed anxiety and depression” and was given medication in 2014 Victim Ervyn Enilo was offering rehab services without accreditation

The man who allegedly killed a drug addiction counselor and a fellow recovering addict in Talisay City before killing himself had sought consultation for anxiety and depression for three years.

Dr. Rene Obra, head of the Center for Behavioral Sciences (CBS) at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), told SunStar Cebu that Archie Abastillas had a history of illegal drug abuse since high school. He was also known to previous employers as someone who didn’t heed authority.

Abastillas hacked to death drug addiction counselor Ervyn Ian Enilo and fellow recovering drug user Thomas Woodrow inside a rented apartment in Sitio Uldog, Barangay Cansojong last Thursday dawn. He then took his own life.

Only Lyndon Carpiso, also a recovering drug user, survived the assault.

Obra confirmed that Abastillas was a patient of VSMMC-CBS starting in October 2014. The latter was diagnosed with “mixed anxiety and depression” and was given medication for his condition.

Abastillas had been at their office 16 times until he stopped coming in the middle of 2016, Obra said.

Obra said that Abastillas may have stopped taking his prescription medication after he stopped seeking their help.

Based on employment records, Abastillas worked for a mall for a couple of weeks before working for a firm at the Mactan Export Zone (MEZ) for

Kung mo-operate gani sila og drug rehab kailangan sila magpalicense sa DOH ug mokuha og capable nga mga medical personnel

DR. RENE OBRA Head of the Center for Behavioral Sciences at the Vicente Sotto Medical Memorial Center, on the aftercare facility for recovering drug addicts set up by a group headed by Ervyn Enilo in Talisay City

three years.

But he was fired because he wouldn’t follow company policies, Obra said.

Last Tuesday, Abastillas was brought to the VSMMC by a group of people claiming to be drug addiction counselors to undergo treatment.

Obra later found that the group was led by Enilo.

Enilo was reportedly paid by Abastillas’s sister to treat his anxiety and depression.

Obra thought that what Enilo was doing was “illegal” as he and his companions were offering drug rehabilitation services without an accreditation from the Department of Health.

Obra said he believes that Abastillas’s violent behavior that resulted to last Thursday’s murders and his alleged suicide was due to his failure to take his regular medication.

Obra said that medical personnel, such as trained drug therapists and doctors, should be present in any facility catering to recovering drug users.