A 2-year-old boy died after allegedly suffering physical abuse in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, with police arresting his 37-year-old stepfather, authorities said.
The victim was identified as Alias Paul, while the suspect was identified as Alias Loy, the live-in partner of the child’s mother.
According to the Labangon Police Station, the boy’s death certificate indicated subdural hemorrhage and blunt traumatic head injury as the causes of death.
Police also reportedly found bruises on the child’s arms, cheeks and back.
The suspect admitted that some of the marks were allegedly caused by bites whenever he became overly emotional toward the child, but he denied beating the boy.
Loy said the child’s mother was at work at the time and that the boy had been sick. He claimed they had planned to bring the child for a medical checkup.
The suspect also told police that he had fallen asleep and, upon waking, noticed that the child was having difficulty breathing because of cough and colds.
He said he immediately tried to help the boy but found that the child was no longer moving. The suspect reportedly panicked and went to a friend’s house in another barangay.
The victim’s aunt called for justice and urged authorities to hold the suspect accountable for the child’s death.
She said she wanted the suspect jailed and the family to obtain justice for the boy.
Police said the incident remains under investigation. Loy is currently detained at the Labangon Police Station while authorities prepare the appropriate charges.
