Sunday, October 07, 2007 Tanods save girl, 13, from ‘mean’ aunt
A 13-YEAR-OLD girl has sought the help of local authorities for alleged maltreatment she suffered in the hands of a relative in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City.
PO2 Brenda Espina of the Talisay City PNP women and children’s desk said the girl could no longer withstand her aunt’s meanness since her parents left her to her care 10 years ago.
Questioned
The girl’s parents reportedly separated and each now have their own families, leaving her and another sibling under the care of Lucia Caparida of Sitio Cuadra, Lagtang.
Espina said that baran-gay tanods came to the girl’s rescue last Thursday after receiving a report that her aunt allegedly hit her head with a wooden club.
PO3 Edwin Alvarado and PO2 Allan Villasorda also responded and picked up Caparida for questioning.
Caparida, who was later released by the police, has another version of a story.
Custody issue
Espina said that accompanied by her friend’s mother, the teenager sought the help of the City Social Welfare Office (CSWO) after she was rescued.
However, the girl told Social Welfare Officer Fe Bacaltos that she would not file a complaint against Caparida.
“She only wanted that she be transferred to another house because she no longer wants to live with her aunt,” Espina said.
She said the youngster, a first year high school student, was temporarily placed in another relative’s custody.
The CSWO will finalize her transfer of custody in a meeting with Ba-caltos at the Talisay City Hall tomorrow. (GC)
