Boy, 8, knifed dead by own uncle for stopping arson try

CALAMBA CITY — An eight-year-old boy was stabbed dead by his own uncle for saving their home from being set on fire.

Reggie Baraquilla, a Grade 1 pupil, was stabbed 24 times in different parts of the body after he snatched an LPG-fed burner from his uncle, Rodil Baraquilla, 35, who was then trying to light it up in order to set their house in Barangay Canlubang here on fire at about 11 p.m. Friday.

Reggie took the LPG stove outside their house but his uncle caught up with him and dragged him back inside the house.

Rodil, said to be heavily drunk, then repeatedly stabbed the boy.

The boy’s mother, Aurora, tried to come to her son’s rescue but to no avail. Instead, Rodil held her hostage, pointing to her the same kitchen knife he had used to kill his nephew.

Responding policemen tried to pacify the suspect and persuaded him to surrender peacefully. At one point, he attempted to stab Aurora but the lawmen fired warning shots. He eventually gave up.

In between sobs, Aurora said she did not expect that her son, who was the only one attending to her old mother, would be killed by his own uncle.

She said Rodil would often turn violent whenever he was heavily drunk.

Charges of homicide and frustrated parricide are being readied against Rodil, who is now detained at the Calamba City jail.

In another development, a barangay tanod was fatally shot by a security guard in Laguna Buenavista Executive Homes in Barangay Barandal here.

Police said barangay tanod Juanito Llanera, 49, died due to a gunshsot wound in the back.