MANILA, Philippines ? A man said to be suffering from mental illness attacked a young girl and gouged out her left eye in Taguig City on Monday night. He said he mistook her for a frog.
The victim, Kryzzy Anne Diaz, 3, was hospitalized while her attacker, Rolly Semira, 24, a native of Negros Occidental province, was immediately arrested by the police.
Chief Insp. Delia Ingalla of the city police?s women and children?s desk said the suspect was reportedly suffering from psychological problems.
?We have also subjected him to laboratory tests to see if he will test positive for illegal drugs,? she added.
An initial investigation showed that at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Kryzzy and her sister, Karylle Anne, left their house in Barangay Signal Village to buy food.
Semira, who was hanging around the neighborhood, suddenly grabbed the victim and gouged out her eye, prompting her sister to run to their father, Anthony, for help.
He immediately rushed out of the house and saw his daughter lying on the street. By then, the suspect was trying to gouge out the victim?s other eye.
?I was just relaxing after coming from work when one of my children rushed in crying and said ?Kryzzy is dead.? I rushed out and I saw my daughter lying unconscious,? Anthony said.
Semira later told police that he mistook the three-year-old girl for a frog.
The victim was rushed to the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City for medical treatment.
The suspect, on the other hand, is now detained at the Taguig City police station and is facing frustrated murder charges under Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga, meanwhile, said he would grant preschool, elementary and high school scholarships to Kryzzy who is set to start school this year.
He also ordered the city?s social welfare development office to shoulder the victim?s hospital bills and extend financial assistance to her family. He also ordered medical personnel to give the girl post-trauma counseling.
