Child confirms Joshua bullied
A 15-year-old boy pushed 7-year-old Joshua Rocacolba (not Veloso as earlier reported) into waist-deep waters, resulting in the child’s death.
This was how a 7-year-old boy described the Feb. 29 afternoon incident in which several minors reportedly bullied Joshua and his 11-year-old companion as they were headed home in barangay Buaya, Lapu-Lapu City.
The boy’s account came a day after the Lapu-Lapu City police said they “temporarily closed” the case on Joshua’s death, which they described as “an accident.”
When Cebu Daily News called homicide Investigator PO2 Franklin Bulaquia of the Lapu-Lapu City police about the boy’s story, he said, “Wala pa jud mo nahuman ana nga human naman mi ana?” (Aren’t you done with that case? We’re already done with the case).”
Cebu Daily News went to the house of the 7-year-old boy who said he played near a footbridge when he saw Joshua being harassed by six boys, one of whom is a tall 15-year-old.
“I was just watching,” he told CDN in Cebuano.
The child said one boy hit Joshua with a palwa (frond) that was as big as his arm.
He said the 15-year-old pushed Joshua into the waters.
Struggling
The 7-year-old boy’s mother said no policemen went to their house in barangay Buaya to investigate.
“Luoy sad baya ang bata (I took pity on Joshua),” the mother said.
She said her 7-year-old son would often go to the sea to play after school.
Cebu Daily News showed to the 7-year-old boy the photo of the footbridge where Joshua played.
The boy said the 15-year-old pushed Joshua into the seawaters with both hands.
“Gitukmod (si Joshua) . . . Nagkapa-kapa (Joshua was pushed into the sea and he was struggling in the waters),” the 7-year-old said.
He said he was sure that it was Joshua who was pushed because Joshua was his classmate in Buaya Elementary School.
Flee
When he saw what happened to Joshua, the boy said he got scared, went home and recounted the incident to his mother.
News of the 7-year-old boy’s account brought relief to Joshua’s mother Alma, who said she will visit the boy’s mother to verify his story.
Alma told Cebu Daily News that a relative of the 15-year-old boy went to their house last Wednesday afternoon (March 7) and told her about the suspect’s background.
“Gipasibat man daw nila (The parents of the 15-year-old boy who pushed my son into the sea advised their son to flee),” Alma said.
Alma said their lawyer Elmer Yuson advised them to ask help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Alma previously said they won’t press charges against the youngsters responsible for Joshua’s death due to lack of witnesses.
She said one of their witnesses backed off for fear of reprisal from the families of the minors.
Pestered
Joshua, the eldest child in the brood of three, was laid to rest last Monday.
Earlier, a 51-year-old Buaya resident identified as Wilne Morden said she saw Joshua and his 11-year-old companion walk near the sea located 200 meters away from the Buaya Elementary School before 5 p.m.
Morden said she talked with friends in her house when she saw Joshua’s 11-year-old companion being pestered by youngsters.
She went outside and scolded them and heard Joshua’s companion crying and telling her that his friend was missing.
Morden said her 27-year-old neighbor Van Emerson Epe found Joshua deep in the waters, his skin darkened.
Eppe tried to revive the child before bringing him to the Mactan Doctors’ Hospital where he died past 5 p.m.
In a phone interview, PO2 Bulaquia said their “follow-up” investigation on Joshua’s drowning ran for three days in coordination with the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD).
Verbal testimonies
But PO2 Bulaquia said they concluded that Joshua’s death was an “accidental drowning” based on their follow-up investigation and post-mortem examination.
He said Joshua’s autopsy results showed that he died of “asphyxia by drowning.”
“No witnesses have seen Joshua being pushed into the seawaters. They misinterpreted it. We went to the house of the minors and the crime scene. We cannot just easily conclude because we are very careful about it,” Bulaquia said.
In a separate phone interview, Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Lapu-Lapu City police chief, said investigators should go to the area to investigate and identify the witnesses.
Lawas said the police will also welcome volunteer and “walk-in” witnesses.
He said the police will document an affidavit if the witness is willing to secure one.
“We cannot rely on verbal testimonies,” Lawas said.
Lawas said if a witness to a crime is a minor, they need to coordinate with the WCPD and secure the parents’ consent.
