Suspect arrested in stabbing of 5-year-old boy; victim in critical condition

A man has been charged with frustrated murder and child abuse for allegedly stabbing a boy in Navotas City, who is now in critical condition.

The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was arrested on Wednesday, April 1, for allegedly stabbing a five-year-old kid in Navotas City earlier this week. He is facing charges of Frustrated Murder and violations of Section 10(a) in relation to Section 3(b)(1) of RA 7610, which was filed with the Navotas City Prosecutor’s Office.

According to reports, the victim was found bleeding heavily in a vacant lot near the NLEX ramp of R10 Sitio Puting Bato in Barangay NBBS Proper on March 31 at 5:45 p.m.

Before the incident, CCTV footage obtained by the Navotas City Police showed the suspect together with the victim and the victim’s two cousins, who are also minors. 

“Hindi na nakita doon sa CCTV kung saan sila dumiretso pero palabas sila doon sa area kung saan nakita ‘yung bata natin,” Police Colonel Renante Pinuela, chief of police of Navotas City, said in an interview with GMA News.

The victim was taken to Tondo Medical Center and had lacerations on the stomach and neck and a hematoma over the left eye, Pinuela said.

Police also found broken glass, bloodstains, and clothing at the scene, which were sent to the crime lab for examination.

At the hospital, the victim, accompanied by his mother, was shown a photo of the suspect three times and confirmed that he was the attacker. He was also positively identified by the victim’s two minor companions.

The victim’s father said they had planned to take their only child out that day. He was at work when his wife called, urging him to go to the hospital immediately.

“Nakita ko 'yung anak ko. Parang 'di ko na makilala kasi basag daw ‘yung mukha. ‘Di na makadilat 'yung isang mata, pati ‘yung ulo. Parang demonyo 'yung gumawa talaga eh,” the victim’s father said. “’Di ko akalain. Akala ko simpleng kalaro lang. Nadurog talaga ako,” he added.

“Gusto ko siyang yakapin. ‘Di ko magawa. Sinabi ko lang, ‘Nak, lakasan mo ang loob mo. Mahal na mahal kita.’ ‘Yung anak ko, gustong tanggalin ‘yung nasa bibig niya. Gustong sabihin na mahal niya rin ako,” the father tearfully recalled.

The father said his son is in critical condition and will need several surgeries, as he was told the kid's intestines were severely damaged. "Sana 'pag na-operahan siya, sana kayanin niya."

Per Pinuela, the suspect’s motive has not yet been determined.