CEBU, Philippines - The 16-year-old mother who stabbed to death her one year and nine-month-old daughter last Monday was found to have been suffering from a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) according to Dr. Rene Obra.
Obra, department head of the Center for Behavioral Sciences of the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, said that the PTSD was triggered by flashbacks or bad experiences the mother had encountered.
“Ato nga time na-love na sa mama ang bata unya mura’g nag-rashes pa so nalibog siya kung unsa iyang buhaton possibly naay na-flashback sa iyaha maong iya tong nabuhat,(At that time, the mother loved her baby. When she saw the rashes, she may have been confused on what she should do and possibly she had a flashback which was why she committed the crime.)” Obra explained.
Obra added that the mere act of the mother trying to kill herself right after she killed her baby, was a sign of remorse for what she did.
The PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that will result in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, overwhelming the individual’s ability to cope.
“PTSD experiences are beyond normal like rape and torture in which it reminds the person and pwede ma-flashback, (…she may have flashbacks of her ordeal.)” Obra said.
The baby was reportedly fathered by the 16-year-old’s uncle while she was staying in Manila. The mother then went to Tuburan town where she gave birth and last August, she decided to stay in Moalboal.
Obra said that a person having PTSD will show signs of being irritable, sudden reactions like shouting, and change in behavior.
“Dili sad ingon boang ang mama but lahi ni nga klase sa psychiatric problem,(The mother is not crazy but this is a different kind of psychiatric problem.)” he said.
Cebu Normal University Guidance Counselor Emmanuel Hernani told The FREEMAN that psychological disorder is not cognitive alone but also an emotional disorder.
Hernani added that the behavior of a person depends on his perspective in life.
“PTSD dako na nga burden kay magbalik-balik especially if the mother experienced abuse,(PTSD is a huge burden because it happens repeatedly especially if the mother experienced abuse.)” he said.
The mother is still recuperating at the hospital and psychological intervention will be made when she is well as assisted by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development.
Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador said they will wait for the Certificate of Discernment issued by the MSWD which will determine if they will file a case against the mother or not.— (FREEMAN)