Depressed pa 'tries to kill' youngest son

CEBU, Philippines - A 35-year-old man was arrested after allegedly contemplating on killing his nine-month-old son, and committing suicide afterwards, in a 15-foot abandoned well in Poblacion, San Remigio town at past 2 p.m. the other day.

The suspect was identified as Romeo Vargas Tamboboy, Sr.; a widower. His son, who was named after him, is said to be the youngest child. However, it wasn’t determined exactly as to how many children Tamboboy has.

Initial investigation conducted by the San Remigio Police revealed that his sister arrived at the police station seeking for assistance to locate his whereabouts and that of the baby.

His sister said that Tamboboy is believed to be suffering from depression after his wife died because of complications of the recent childbirth.

Responding policemen immediately conducted a search operation by checking if the two could be around the neighborhood. Afterwhich, a neighbor informed them that Tamboboy was last seen with the baby “hours ago.”

Another piece of information had it that Tamboboy was seen to be always hanging around a dry well located several blocks away from his house.

The team proceeded to the area where they found the suspect and his son. Recovered from him was a 10-inch screwdriver.

They were then taken to the Don Severo Verallo Hospital in Bogo City, but Tamboboy was later referred by the attending physician to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where he underwent a psychiatric examination.

He was taken back to the San Remigio Police Station where a child abuse case is prepared against him.

As of this writing, PO2 Herman Bulawit of the San Remigio Police Station said that the suspect refused to speak to anyone since his arrest.

They believe that the suspect could have set his ire on his own son for the death of his wife. — Antoniette T. Parce/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)