Grandma slits baby’s throat

CEBU, Philippines - A two-year-old girl died after her grandmother allegedly slit her throat yesterday dawn in Barangay Tubod, Toledo City.

The victim, Jemigan Basalo, was rushed by her relatives to Toledo City Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. Her 50-year-old grandmother, Melianida Pelarca, was arrested by the responding barangay tanods and was turned over to the police.

PO3 Carlos Barluado, desk officer of Toledo City Police Station, said the suspect, who is believed to be suffering from mental illness, was turned over to them by the tanods.

The police received a call at 4 a.m. yesterday about a woman killing a child.

The barangay tanods first responded the incident and turned over Pelarca to the police. SPO2 Benedicto Bobiles, homicide investigator, said they found out that the suspect used a bladed weapon in slitting the girl’s neck.

According to the police, the suspect had been suffering from mental illness. In fact, she attempted to commit suicide on August 21. She was confined at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and was only discharged from the hospital on August 26.

The police said that the suspect could not speak well but allegedly claimed that someone is out to kill her and wants to take the baby to Ormoc City. This allegedly prompted her to kill the child.

Pelarca also tried to kill herself after killing the child but was timely stopped by neighbors and the barangay tanods.

The mother of the child is said to be working in Ormoc City and the child was left to the care of her relatives.

The suspect was brought to the Center for Behavioral Sciences of VSMMC for examination. Despite the findings, the police are still preparing criminal complaint against the suspect.  (FREEMAN)