A ONE-YEAR-OLD boy was killed after he was ran over by a vehicle along New Imus Road in Cebu City past 11 a.m. Monday, May 23.
Michelle Dungog, one of the witnesses, said that the boy's mother, Rebecca Ginoo, was holding her child when she carelessly let go of him to receive a glass of liquor.
"Gigunitan baya tong bataa, unya kay pag kuan lageh sa tagay kay iya nang tagay, iya gyud gibiyaan ang bata kay ang baso ang iyang gi-una (She was actually holding the boy, but she let go of him when she was told it's her turn to drink)," Dungog said.
Dungog added that the vehicle, driven by Melquiades Obtina, was running very slow, thus it was impossible for it to cause an accident.
She said the boy was small, so it was hard for a driver to see him crossing.
Obtina said he saw the mother suddenly crossed the road, as if she was chasing someone.
"Ang inahan gainom diha sa kilid, kanang bataa wa jud ko kita ana. Hawan jud ang kalsada, unya ni kalit la man na ug gawas ang inahan unya aduna siyay gigukod. Mura ang bata unya basin natukmod bah kaha niya, mao tong na diretso ngadto's ilawom," he said.
Obtina said the mother might have pushed the child, who was found inserted into the side portion of the vehicle.
"Nakurat nalang ko kay ni-untog ang sakyanan, dire man sa gilid na pasok ang bata. Kung naa to sa atubangan, makakita pa ko," Obtina said.
But the mother denied she was on a drinking session. She said they were just talking on the roadside.
"Dili ko hubog sir. Wala sad mi nag-inom (I was not drunk and we were not drinking)," Ginoo said.
She said the vehicle was running fast when the incident happened.
She also denied that she pushed her child, stressing there were witnesses who could validate her statement.
"Dili na tinuod, wala nako gitulak ako anak, naa koy saksi, akong amiga ug akong anak, nakakita sila (I did not push my child. I have my friend and another child as witnesses)," she said.
Ginoo said she did not notice her son because she was talking to her friend.
Michelle Dungog, one of the witnesses and the victim's neighbor, said Rebecca should be the one to be put on jail because she is not taking care of her children.
Both the mother and driver were brought to the Cebu City Traffic Office for questioning, while the boy was brought to a morgue. (Samuel Carlve Saberon, USJ-R intern/Sunnex)