Police said the drowning of 7-year-old Joshua Veloso who was chased into the sea by youngsters in barangay Buaya in Lapu-Lapu City appeared “accidental.”
Six pre-teen boys were identified by police in Wednesday’s bullying incident that took place when Veloso was walking home from school with a classmate.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Lapu-Lapu City OIC police chief, said that based on initial investigation by the women’s desk, Joshua’s death was “purely drowning by accident, thus, there was no reason to hold the suspected children nor any liability on their part.”
The boy suspects are aged 11 to 12 and out-of-school youths.
Because of their minor age, they can’t be detained in jail or charged criminally under the Juvenile Justice Law, which mandates the government to have a “diversion” program for young offenders in trouble with the law.
Alma, the mother of Joshua, cried in frustration and outrage over the death of her eldest son.
“What should we do—just bury him? That’s all? It was clear that those boys intimidated my son, threw coconut husks at him, then caused my son to panic and drown,” she said.
Alma, a housewife, said neither the young perpetrators nor their parents visited the vigil wake of Joshua to express their sympathies or say sorry for what happened.
“They never helped us,” she said in Cebuano.
Senior Supt. Lawas said there was insufficient proof that there was foul play in the boy’s death.
This is contrary, though, to the account of Joshua’s classmate Jun (not his real name), and a witness, barangay Buaya resident Wilne Morden, who said the two pupils were harassed by the youths.
While Jun was able to run off and hide, Joshua was chased into the water, where he was boxed and pushed underwater, according to the classmate.
Parents and two boys were invited to the Lapu-Lapu police station yesterday for an inquiry by the women’s desk.
The young suspects were released after a witness could not pinpoint who was responsible for the drowning.
Lyn Mosqueda, Joshua’s teacher, said a collection of alms to help the family has been authorized by the Department of Education of Lapu-Lapu City Division in a memorandum to public schools and teachers.
On the day Joshua died, the teacher had invited his mother to school to tell her that her grade 1 son was doing well and would be promoted to grade 2.
Joshua was walking home to sitio Ka-aryang with classmates in the afternoon when he was accosted by what his father said were “gang members.”
Joshua was left behind and wasn’t able to escape because his school bag fell, according to the witness account.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said her staff will look into what help the city government can give to Joshua’s family.
The mayor said she also plans to take up the incident in the next regular meeting with barangay captains especially those along the coast.
She said they have to be more vigilant about children playing near the seashore.