DAVAO CITY, Philippines— A four-year old girl, the lone survivor of a land feud turned massacre will stay with her relatives, the City Social Service and Development Office said.
“Putting a child under the custody of government residential facilities should always be the last recourse, because we still believe that the family is the best palce for a child, unless there’s a threat to the safety of the family providing safety and security to the child,” said Maria Luisa Bermudo, CSSDO chief.
The decision came after assessing that a relative was able to take custody of the child, with the CSSDO closely monitoring the child.
“We will closely monitor the child, along with the family. There will also be activities to be conducted with the family and the community. The guardian was also assured a job by Mayor Inday in the city in order to ensure that the child will be supported continuously,” Bermudo said.
The 4-year-old survivor reportedly saw the killing of her parents and her brother by her two uncles in their house in Purok 5, Barangay Baracatan, Toril and narrated this to police investigators
According the child’s accounts, her uncle Romulo Teleron hacked her father, Percy Idar and her 12-year-old brother in the neck, while Nilo Teleron shot her mother, Carlita.
Percy’s lifeless body was found some 30 meters away from their house. Romulo and Nilo are Carlita’s brothers said to have committed the murder because of a previous quarrel over a tract of land.
Romulo is now in the custody of the police while Nilo remains at large. (davaotoday.com)
