Briton accused of hitting boy, 7, with plastic chair

A British widower was arrested after allegedly hitting a boy with a plastic chair along Junquera Street, barangay Kamagayan last Sunday evening.

The suspect, Philip John Madden, 63, a resident of barangay Quiot, Cebu City, denied the accusation against him.

Policemen from the Parian police station and the victim's mother Rowena Gako arrested the suspect after her seven-year-old son complained that he was hit with a plastic chair in the right side of the body by the suspect who was drinking liquor at that time.

Rowena said when she confronted Madden, the latter got mad and yelled obscenities at her then tried to throw bottles of liquor at her.

Gako left and went to Parian police station and asked for help. The suspect was arrested and is now detained at Cebu City Police Office stockade.

Madden, who has lived in the Cebu since 1984, denied he hit the boy with the plastic chair.

"No, I didn't hit him, I just shoved him away because there were six of them," Madden explained while still lying on the floor of the cell. He said they were annoying and pestering him.

He admitted that he was drinking brandy at that time.

Madden will be marrying a Cebuana neighbor next year. He said this will be the second time he will marry a Cebuana since the first one he married died a few years ago.

The police are now preparing to file charges for violating the Republic Act 7610 or Child Abuse against Madden. - Edwin Ian Melecio