BAGUIO CITY – An eight-year-old boy was found dead before on Thursday (July 5) near the parking area of the old city library at Burnham Park.
The boy’s head was battered when his remains were discovered at 11:45 a.m., the Baguio police said.
A blood-splattered rock was found near the grassy area, and forensic investigators believe the boy, described as an out-of-school youth, was struck with the rock at 10 a.m.
The police detained Andy Mamalagyo, 26, who was earlier seen walking with the boy towards the park’s Athletic Bowl, apparently to play basketball.
The Athletic Bowl is frequently used as a shortcut to a public high school, and students told the police they later saw Mamalagyo striking something with a rock. They said the sight did not bother them, believing the man was killing a rat.
The police said Mamalagyo’s shirt bore blood stains which are now being examined by the crime laboratory.
It was not clear why the man would harm the child.