Cebuano boy, 8, dies from beating by school bullies

CEBU CITY — An eight-year-old Grade 1 pupil at the Tejero Elementary School here died last Monday, five days after he was ganged up and beaten by three other boys from the same school, two from Grade 2 and the third, a high school freshman.

The victim, Zalbert Zamente, a resident of Barangay Tinago, was allegedly beaten by the three boys during recess last July 17.

Zamente’s father Roberto said he learned from witnesses that his son never had a chance to escape from his attackers because he was beaten up while being held from behind.

Roberto said the family only learned about the incident last Sunday when the boy began complaining of pain in his head.

Zalbert’s mother Rosalinda found contusions on the right temple and that his left eye was swollen.

Rosalina said she first did not give much thought to her son’s condition when he told her he had been beaten up. She said this was because the boy later took back what he said.

But by Monday morning, Zalbert could no longer talk so his parents decided to bring him to the Cebu City Medical Center.

By this time, the boy’s head had greatly swelled and he could hardly hear anymore. That afternoon, Zalbert died in the hospital.

Rosalinda said her son’s doctor explained that the beating had affected his brain.

The Zamente couple claimed that their son’s teacher never informed them about what happened to him. — Freeman News Service