Stepdad slashes right ear of 8-year-old boy

BUTUAN CITY – Misunderstanding over food and the hardship of life led a 44-year-old man to slash the right ear of his eight-year-old stepson using a bolo in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur yesterday.

Police said the suspect as Alejandro Rivas, 44, a resident of Barangay Pagbahanan, attacked the son, who is out of school, of his common-law wife. Dominga Olayon Sarte.

Police said Rivas, using a bolo locally known as sundang, slashed the ear of the boy after he failed to cook food for his lunch.

This angered the suspect, who then had an argument with his common-law wife over their hard life.

Without a word, the suspect grabbed the boy and with the bolo, cut his right ear and then fled.

Police said they are investigating the incident.