SIX of the seven children who were left orphaned when their parents were gunned down last Thursday dawn, March 28, were turned over to the Mandaue City Social Welfare and Services (CSWS).

Jessie Perez, CSWS head, said the orphans needed to undergo stress debriefing because they witnessed the crime.

Four masked men barged into their house in Sitio Lapyahan in Barangay Labogon and shot dead Ricardo Avenido and Agnes Pugoy.

The couple’s eldest child is 13 years old, while the youngest is one year old. One of the siblings was in Davao City when the incident happened, and remains in Mindanao.

After the stress debriefing, Perez said they will interview the children’s relatives to determine who is fit to raise them as possible foster parents. The relatives must pass the capability assessment before they can take custody of the children.

Perez said the CSWS will take care of the children if the relatives cannot raise them. (from GCM of Superbalita Cebu/KAL)