MANILA — The Office of the President (OP) on Friday expressed its readiness to extend immediate assistance following the stabbing of four children in Samal on Thursday, three of whom died.
“Tutulong po kami sa biktima ng namatay at nasa ospital pa po. Titingnan ko po ano po ang immediate na maibigay kong tulong (We will help the victims, including those in the hospital. I’ll see what immediate assistance I could give),” Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said in an interview in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
The filicide was committed in Purok 1, Barangay San Isidro, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal by the family’s patriarch.
Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 11 (Davao), identified the victims as RJ Nonoy, 13; Cyrus, 11; and Aira Nicole, 7; and Sophia, 4.
Driz said the children’s father, Joel, 40, who also stabbed himself, survived along with Sophia.
Based on initial police investigation, the suspect was deserted by his wife because of marital problems and the children were left in his care.
The perpetrator now faces multiple parricide charges and frustrated parricide for the incident. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
