Search on for boy who killed schoolmate

MANILA, Philippines - Taguig City’s social workers are looking for a 14-year-old boy who reportedly used a set of brass knuckles to beat a schoolmate to death last Thursday, an officer said yesterday.

Despite appeals from the parents of victim Jurie Jabon, his alleged killer has not surrendered to the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Development office. Ronnie Audjie, DSWD-Taguig youth focal officer, said the city’s social workers are looking for the boy. The case is being handled by social worker Jurita Olvido, Audjie said.

The city’s DSWD office also said Jabon and his alleged killer are schoolmates, contrary to an earlier claim by Taguig-Pateros Department of Education administrator George Tizon that the victim was killed by a group of streetchildren.

According to Tizon, a day before Jabon was attacked, the victim played basketball with the streetchildren. He reportedly elbowed one of the teenagers during the game.

The next night, the teenagers attacked Jabon as he walked along 7th street in Barangay Katuparan just before 7 p.m. During the attack, the victim was punched in the head by one teenager with a set of brass knuckles, Tizon said.

Jabon, an incoming third year high school student, was declared brain dead last Saturday at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital.

One of the boys who attacked Jabon was surrendered by his parents to the city’s DSWD office.