• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Officials offered a total of P75,000 reward for information that will lead to the identification and arrest of the assailant in the stone attack of three children in Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City, Negros Occidental Saturday, Feb. 7.
Among the victims, a nine-year-old girl died while her two siblings, a 14-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy, were in critical condition as of Sunday.
Initial investigation of the Silay City Police Station showed the children were inside the bedroom when they were attacked and believed to be hit with a stone, which was recovered at the scene of incident in Hacienda Badiang.
The two siblings, who sustained severe injuries, are confined at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez, who strongly condemned the brutal incident, offered a P50,000 reward for the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Benitez said anyone who may have information may contact him.
Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego offered a P25,000 reward for the apprehension of the assailant.
In a press briefing, Gallego, who described the incident as “a senseless act of violence against innocent children,” said the city government will spare no effort to find the one responsible for the crime, assuring the victims’ family that the full force of the law will be applied against the suspect.
Investigation further showed the three children didn’t have an adult companion as their father was working in Bacolod City while their mother is an overseas Filipino worker.
The father found one of his children lifeless and the two others injured when he returned home on Saturday, according to the police.
In a statement, PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, ordered the conduct of a thorough and impartial investigation and directed concerned units to pursue all leads and ensure that justice is served.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. We assure them that the police will exert all efforts to uncover the truth behind this incident and hold those responsible accountable,” he added. | GB
