Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network
Tuesday, Nov 27, 2012
MANILA, Philippines - A two-year-old child sustained serious injuries after she was stabbed thrice by her own father inside their residence in Princecourt Town Homes II, Better Living, Barangay (village) Don Bosco, Parañaque City, on Monday afternoon.
Nivea Dipalobos, 2, could have been stabbed to death by her father, Marc, 31, had it not been for their neighbours who mauled the suspect before he could inflict more harm to the helpless kid, said Don Bosco councilor Cho Villar.
Villar and a peace-and-order team rushed to the scene when patrolling village watchers informed them of a commotion at the village.
The councilor told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an interview that upon arrival in the area they saw about 100 people mauling a man who was also trying to fight back.
Villagers told responding officers that at about 3:10 p.m., they saw Marc outside their rented house stabbing repeatedly his daughter on the head and at her back.
"Neighbors and other residents attacked the suspect when they saw him hurting Nivea," Villar said.
The wounded kid was immediately taken by neighbours to nearby Parañaque Doctors Hospital where she was being treated for her stab wounds on her nape and at her back.
The kid was in stable condition, as of this posting, but she has to undergo operation because her wounds are deep, according to Villar.
The suspect was also taken by village watchers to a hospital due to the bruises and cuts he sustained from the angry mob that attacked him.
Neighbors claimed that earlier in the day, they heard the suspect and his wife, Heidi, having a heated argument. They told investigators that Marc even burned his motorcycle in anger.
The suspect, according to Villar, admitted that he had been drinking for the previous few nights and that he was angry with his wife.
Heidi, however, refused to talk to authorities, claiming that she had no idea of what happened since she was busy with their food stall business located near their rented house.
Neighbors close to the family suspected that an altercation between the couple could have caused the attack. They also told village and police officers that there were rumours before that the suspect was a drug user.
Villar considered Nivea lucky because she survived the stabbing and she was saved by helpful neigbors.
"She could have been chopped to pieces by the suspect if their neighbours were not quick in taking action," Villar said.
Marc's wounds have been treated and he has been taken into custody by Parañaque police.
