Man arrested for beating partner’s two-year-old son to death in Batangas

SAN PEDRO CITY- A man was arrested Friday afternoon for allegedly beating to death the two-year-old son of his live-in partner in Rosario town in Batangas province.

Rosario police chief Chief Inspector Rodel Ban-o, in a phone interview, said the suspect John Ross Alaro, a construction worker, would be charged with murder for killing his partner’s child, Miko Basila, in their home in Barangay Maligaya around 9:30 a.m. Friday.

“The child’s mother was away for work at that time. When we interviewed (Alaro), he said he was just trying to discipline the child,” Ban-o said.

According to police, bruises found on the child’s body showed he was “kicked” in the chest.

Ban-o said it was Alaro himself and the boy’s grandmother who took the child to a hospital Friday morning.

The hospital called the police but Alaro had already left when the authorities arrived.

“When he noticed the child was not moving anymore, that was the only time he called for help and brought him to the hospital,” Ban-o added.

Police found Alaro at around 3 p.m. waiting outside the factory where the child’s mother was working.

“Neighbors said it was not the first time (the suspect) hit the child,” Ban-o said.