BACOLOD CITY – A five-year-old girl was allegedly killed by her aunt in a swamp in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.
Police Capt. Rhojn Darell Nigos, town police chief, said the victim whose name was withheld was allegedly choked and drowned to death by her 27-year-old aunt who is the younger sister of the child’s mother.
Nigos said the victim was found dead in a swamp several hours after she was reported missing by her family that day.
He said that the victim was last seen by her family around 2 p.m. after she tagged along with the suspect to the swamp that day. However, her aunt went home first.
Nigos said the victim has injuries and her underwear was inserted on her genitals.
He said they invited three persons, including the child’s aunt, to the police station for interrogation early the following day. “These persons were the last persons seen with the child before the incident happened,” he added.
Nigos said the child’s aunt admitted to her elder sister that she choked her niece while the child’s head was soaked in the water. He also said that the suspect also inserted an underwear on her niece’s genitals to mislead the investigation.
“Nagawa niya daw ‘yun kasi lagi siyang inaaway ng bata at agad sinusumbong sa nanay niya. Ang suspect naman napapagalitan palagi nung nanay ng bata kaya galit siya sa kapatid at pamangkin niya. Parang revenge ‘yung nangyari on her part,” the town police chief said.
He said that the suspect and the child are living in the same house.
Police Master Sergeant Jenne Emborniza, head of Women and Children Protection Desk in the town, said murder charges in relation to violation of Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act” will be filed against the suspect. (Glazyl Masculino)
