Boy could not have died of hazing

CEBU, Philippines - The aunt of the 17-year-old boy who was first reported to have died of hazing never believed that her nephew died of the supposed initiation rite.

Michelle Papa of Cavite arrived in Cebu City yesterday after she received information that her nephew, Jhon Michael Mina, died on Tuesday from alleged hazing.

She said she received the initial information from the person who called her, but she did not believe the cause of death.

She then checked the information herself and learned later that her nephew died in the hands of her own sister, Mylene, the mother of the victim, and her live-in partner, Richard Perez.

Papa told The Freeman that she has not heard the boy since he left Cavite in April. Instead, she only reportedly received complaints from Mylene herself. “Pasaway at matakaw si Jhon,” Papa quoted her sister as saying.

Papa said that being a young boy, it was “natural” for Jhon to be mischievous at times. “Sana hindi niya (Perez) ginulpi ang bata kahit pasaway, kasi bata pa yun,” Papa said.

She said Jhon was a very caring kuya to his younger nephews and nieces in Cebu and in Cavite. “Mabait na kuya si Jhon…kung ano ang meron sya, binibigay niya agad sa mga pinsan niya,” Papa said.

Papa said she will personally keep an eye on the case against Perez to give justice to her nephew. “Kung kailangang tumistigo - gagawin ko,” she said.

Meanwhile, three neighbors of the suspect in sitio Sihay, Barangay Tres de Abril in Barangay Punta Princesa – Maura Dinampo, 62, Potenciana Mendoza, 69, and Marilyn Toreno, 30 – have agreed to testify against Perez.

“Dili man mi suod nila ug maglikay pod mi ana niya (Perez) apan makadungog gyud mi pirmi basta kulatahon na niya ang bata,” Dinampo said.

Mendoza said they were the ones who reported to the police that it was Perez who mauled Perez.

“Dili mi mohunong hangtod dili na makonbekto kay salbahis kaayo nang tawhana…buotan man tong bat-ana (Jhon), tagaan nato siya og hustisya.”said Mendoza.

She said they actually reported Perez to the Department of Social Welfare and Development as early as July, but Mylene reportedly kept on covering up for her live-in partner.

“Makakita gyud mi pirmi sa iyang pagpangulata sa bata kay duol ra kaayo among balay. Dili man mi kaduol aron motabang kay magdala-dala man og armas,” Toreno said.

Toreno also claimed that since the boy arrived in Cebu, the suspect stopped beating his wife and turned his attention to the boy instead.

When Perez was arrested last Thursday, the couple’s neighbors reportedly clapped their hands.

Perez is currently detained at the CCPO detention cell while awaiting the filing of formal charges against him. Mylene, for her part, agreed to testify against her live-in partner. (FREEMAN)