Iloilo boy, 11, held for schoolmate's death

MANILA, Philippines - A seven-year-old boy died in the hands of his 11-year-old schoolmate who repeatedly bashed his head with a stone recently in Sara, Iloilo, authorities said.

The victim, a Grade 1 pupil, succumbed to multiple wounds on the head. He was initially brought to the Sara District Hospital but was later transferred to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to police reports, the victim and his schoolmate, a Grade 4 student, were playing a game at the back of their campus after school hours.

But the latter reportedly got angry when he lost to his younger opponent, grabbed a stone and struck the victim’s head with it.

According to a female schoolmate, the elder boy repeatedly hit the victim’s head. She was momentarily stunned by what she saw, but later sought help.

The 11-year-old was immediately held after the incident, and a knife was found in his possession. He is now in the custody of the municipal social welfare and development office.

Last year, around 500 cases of children in conflict with the law were recorded in Iloilo province, mostly involving thefts and physical injuries.