Boy dies after falling into hole his pa dug

CEBU, Philippines - A four-year-old boy, who was killed after falling into a hole near his house in the mountain Barangay of Cabungahan, Danao City, was laid to rest yesterday afternoon at the public cemetery in Barangay Poblacion.

The body of Junrey Lavador was taken to the cemetery after a Mass at the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church.

Last Saturday afternoon, Junrey was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at the Danao District Hospital due to internal hemorrhage.

Earlier that day Diodito Lavador, 47, the boy’s father, was reportedly digging and flattening the land near their house when Junrey went near him. He then told his son to stay far from him because he was busy and doing dangerous work.

Junrey was last seen with his cousin, a certain JR Argenti, also four years old, playing on another portion of land where his father had previously worked on.

Diodito was reportedly digging holes for the pillars of their new house which supposed to start on October 8.

According to the victim’s mother Merlina, 40, Diodito forgot to check Junrey and was only alerted by a loud thud.

He turned to see JR almost covered by earth while only a portion of Junrey’s figure could be seen.

“Nagbarog ra man si JR ang yuta diha ra sa dughan kutob ang akong anak gyud ang natabunan,” Merlina told The FREEMAN.

Diodito hurriedly rescued both kids, his son was unconscious and had blood trickling from his ears while JR only suffered a knee fracture.

Merlina said she soil around the five-meter deep hole had become soft from the continuous rain.

“Naglibog gyud ko nganong namatay siya nga humok ra man unta ang yuta,” she said.

After the tragedy, the family remains undecided if they will pursue building the new house. —/BRP (FREEMAN)