Poverty, hunger behind amok of young man in Talisay City

CEBU, Philippines - Poverty and hunger were believed to have driven a 17-year-old boy into destroying their home in pieces yesterday afternoon in Talisay City.

The minor, name withheld by The FREEMAN, of Sitio Asan, Barangay Poblacion, broke down and brought their house to a complete wreck using only his hands.

The boy was reported to be suffering from "kabuhi."

Afraid the boy on rampage might cause further harm, neighbor Ricardo Cañon, 23, tied the boy's hands up.  Residents summoned for a "manghihilot" to alleviate the boy's condition.

Initial reports said prior to the incident the minor was seen on rage, detaching the walls of their hut at 7 o'clock in the evening. Cañon, who witnessed it, immediately called for police assistance.

Senior Police Officer1 Ruben Hughes Samson of Talisay City Police refused to handle the case because the person involved was a minor. 

He told the relatives to refer the case directly to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and then left the area.

Meanwhile, concerned neighbors gave the boy something to eat, thinking he had not had his dinner yet, but after consuming the food, he just vomited.

Residents were alarmed because the boy had been acting strange since Sunday afternoon.  He was seen walking around naked and when asked what his name was, he allegedly did not answer.

The minor, whose father was already deceased, was solely raised by his mother who drives trisikad.

He had been once housed in a foundation because his mother's livelihood could not sustain his needs, but the foundation soon closed.

According to his aunt Cora Baguio, 55, the boy was constantly neglected by his mother and could rarely eat three meals a day. 

"Liman ka'g iyang inahan magkaon didto, unya wala gyud nagpakabana kung iyang anak naa ba'y makaon diri (His mother only thinks of herself and does not care whether her son has something to eat)," the aunt said.

Alicia Cañon, 35, neighbor, said, "Naa man na'y gamay ang inahan anang bataa (The mother may be slightly disturbed mentally)."

However, some neighbors said both the boy and his mother had no history of any psychological disorder in their family.

Scared of what the boy might do next, the residents wanted to entrust the boy to DSWD so he may be given the proper attention he needs. — Juffer Denn C. Bornales, CNU Comm Intern (FREEMAN)