ILIGAN CITY—Police here arrested a man suspected to have burned alive a two-year old son of his live-in partner in Maigo town, Lanao del Norte.
Florencio Curay, 55, a farmer, was reportedly drunk when the crime happened around 8 pm on Sunday (Feb. 9), said Lt. Baltazar Deguilmo, Maigo town police chief.
Deguilmo said the suspect was reportedly angry when he arrived home and discovered his money was missing.
He suspected Janet Balde, the mother of the child, and dragged her and the two-year old boy outside the house.
Balde was able to escape and shouted for help but no one came to help her, according to Deguilmo.
Deguilmo said witnesses saw Curay starting a fire with dry leaves and grass in his house’s yard not knowing the boy was burning, too.
Curay tried to escape but was arrested by police.
He is now detained at the Maigo police detention cell and faces charges for arson and violation of the law against child abuse.