Mother hacks son for sleeping in school

CEBU, Philippines - A woman spent a night in jail after she hacked her seven-year-old son with a kitchen knife for sleeping school.

The incident happened in Daanbantayan, Cebu last Tuesday.

The boy sustained a wound to his elbow.

PO3 Clarita Natavio, acting chief of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of the Daanbantayan Police Station, said the mother admitted using the knife on the boy but explained she was only frustrated at that time because none of her customers paid their debt that day.

The mother, 28, sells ready-to-wear items, her family’s only means of income as her husband is studying full time with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Natavio said the woman has since received information that her son would always sleep in class and would not heed the teacher’s instructions and she saw this herself when she went to his school last Tuesday afternoon to pay some fees.

Due to anger, she reportedly forced her son home despite the class still ongoing.

At their house, she reportedly pulled out a 13-inch kitchen knife and told her son she might as well cut his arm off because it’s useless.

“Kay wala ma’y pulos ning kamota, maayo ni putlon (Since this hand is useless, it’s better cut off),” she was quoted as saying.

Fortunately, her 18-year-old sister saw what was happening and took the knife away.

It was also her sister who brought the boy to the Barangay Health Unit.

Natavio said the mother spent a night in jail but the police were forced to release her early yesterday afternoon after her husband and the son himself went to the station to request for her release.

Natavio said she was surprised to see the child approach the chief of the Daanbantayan police and ask that his mother be released.

“Dili man gyud siya mouli kung dili daw makagawas ang iyang mama unya iyang adtoon sa prisohan ang iyang mama iyang ing-non nga ‘gawas na diha ma, manguli nata’,” Natavio said.

The mother could have faced a criminal charge of frustrated parricide had the case went to court.

“Nadala lang gyud kuno to siya sa iyang sapot, unya sa bata niya napahungaw intawon,” Natavio said.

Natavio said she spoke with the woman about the dangers of maltreating children before releasing her. Personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also monitor the family and provide counseling. — /JMO (FREEMAN)