Stepdad beats boy to death

CEBU, Philippines -  A 16-year-old boy from Malabuyoc died in a hospital because of alleged maltreatment by his stepfather.

The Malabuyoc police are now preparing a criminal case against Renato delos Reyes, 44, of sitio Lalao, Barangay Montañeza, Malabuyoc for allegedly whipping his stepson to death Monday morning after the victim has misappropriated the money given to him to buy a kilo of rice.

John Rey Manlisic was told by his stepfather to buy a kilo of rice but the boy spent the money to play computer games instead.

Police Officer 1 Bella Donna Ybañez of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of the Malabuyoc Police Station, said that Delos Reyes admitted whipping Manlisic once using a banana stalk.

Delos Reyes told the police that he got mad when the boy went home without a kilo of rice he was told to buy. The victim allegedly told the suspect that he used the money to play Internet games.

Delos Reyes, a coconut wine maker, however denied beating the victim heavily enough to cause his death. According to Ybañez, the suspect told them that he also slapped the boy before he had seizure.

The boy was rushed by his stepfather to the M.J. Cuenco District Hospital in Malabuyoc but he expired three hours later.

Malabuyoc police chief Amadeo Pepito suspects that the victim was suffering from other illness that may not have been known to the parents.

“Possible lang dunay sakit unya wa lang sila kahibawo unya na-trigger atong pag-sagpa sa amahan,” Pepito said.

The police are still for the autopsy report to determine the real cause of death. The suspect is now detained at the Malabuyoc police station pending charges in court. –(FREEMAN)