Two children found dead in a car in Angeles City. Here's what we know so far

'Nanghihingi po ako ng sorry'

While Pamintuan extended his apologies to the parents of the victims, he asserted his innocence.

“Nanghihingi po ako ng sorry, ng dispensa. Hindi ko po kayang gawin na pumatay ang isang tao din. Kung ano po kapupuntahan ng nangyaring to, haharap po ako,” the car owner was quoted.

His father, Norman Pamintuan, said no one wanted that to happen and called for parents to look after their children.

"Nabigla rin kami kasi 'di namin expect na mangyayari 'yun. Kasi araw-araw ganun yung routine ng anak ko. Uuwi ng umaga tapos matutulog maya-maya aalis na." Norman said in an interview with One News PH.

He continued, "Sa mga magulang po, iingatin po nila yung mga anak nila kasi masyadong bata pa po yung mga batang namatay, sa batas po natin diba, ano pa po ng magulang yung mga ganung edad, liability pa po ng mga magulang."

Not convinced

Meanwhile, Steffany Villegas, one of the victim's mother wanted to conduct another round of autopsy as they were not convinced by the initial result.

"Gusto namin ipa-reautopsy yung mga bata. Gusto namin yung imbestiga kung bakit napasok yung mga bata doon sa loob," Villegas told TV Patrol.

She continued, "Inaamin namin na may pagkukulang kami pero may responsibilidad pa rin yung may-ari ng sasakyan."

Villegas added that her child had blood on her hand and clothes and that he had many bruises.

Parental accountability

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. has ordered the City Public Cemetery and Crematorium (CPCC) to extend assistance for the burial of two children including free caskets. He also personally offered his condolences to the bereaved families.

However, online communities are raising concerns about possible parental neglect and demanding the parents be held responsible.

"With all due respect, ano ang ginagaw[a] ng 2 at 3 taong gulang na bata sa kalsada at walng kasamang magulang o guardian? Responsibilidad nyo ang mga anak nyo at hindi nung driver. Kayo ang pabaya at hindi ang driver," one X user said.

A Facebook user also said: "At that age kailangan pa yan ng supervision ng mga parents. My goodness! they're only 2 and 3 yrs old for Pete's sake! I can't imagine lang ung hirap nila sa loob. Their parents should be in jail!"

Meanwhile, another user drew parallels between the children's death and the recent slaying of a dog named Killua in Camarines Sur.

"The story of the two kids who suffocated in a car in Pampanga and Killua's story share many parallels. And these parallels speak volumes about our culture. Pets and children are not and should never be an afterthought. They are a lot of responsibility to care for and protect," user Mimasaur said.

In the Philippines, failing to provide for a child's basic needs is a crime. The Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination (Republic Act 7610) makes child neglect a punishable offense. 

According to the Department of Justice, child abuse "is failure of a parent or legal guardian to provide, for reasons other than poverty, adequate food, clothing, shelter, basic education or medical care so as to seriously endanger the physical, mental, social and emotional growth and development of the child."

Former acting Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Virginia Orogo in 2018 said, “Parents are responsible for taking care and providing for their children’s needs. No child should be on the streets, exposed to danger at their young age.”