Province to extend assistance to family of girl who died from "maltreatment"

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office said it will extend assistance to the family of the five-year-old girl in Mandaue City who died from alleged maltreatment by her stepmother.

Wilson Ramos of PSWDO said yesterday morning that his office will coordinate with the social workers office of Mandaue City for the assistance it will give.

Ramos said his office always extends assistance to victims of such cases, and not waiting anymore for the referral of Vice Governor and co-chair of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children Agnes Magpale.

Kate Arianne Flores, a grade 1 pupil from Alang-Alang, Mandaue City, was buried at 2 p.m. yesterday.

Right now, the police are still looking for the pregnant 18-year-old suspect, Abigael Catindijan, who fled while the girl was being treated at a hospital.

The girl died last July 27, after two weeks of confinement.

The death certificate said she died of "sepsis and post-traumatic stress disorder secondary to child abuse."