Slain bullying victim in Pangasinan to be autopsied

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan, Philippines — Investigators will autopsy the body of the 11-year old boy who died after allegedly being beaten by his child playmates during a barangay children’s Christmas party last Dec. 28.

Supt. Jay Baybayan, town police chief, told The STAR yesterday that they would facilitate the autopsy to determine the real cause of the Roger Jackson Tabuñar’s death. In a way, this would also help the boy’s father, Roberto Tabuñar, who has called for justice.

Baybayan said they were set to have another round of talks with the families of the victim and the suspects as he noted that if the investigation proves that the boy’s death was caused by the alleged beating, Roberto would file a case.

He also said that the police would look into an allegation that Roberto himself was physically beating his son and that a person is willing to talk about this.

The three accused children – aged nine, 10 and 11 years – are still with their families as the investigation continues.

Based on Roger’s death certificate, the immediate cause of death was septic shock, with pneumonia as antecedent cause and blunt abdominal trauma as underlying cause.

Although not immediately reported to authorities, Roberto recounted that Roger was attending a children’s Christmas party in Barangay Salay when the suspects dragged the boy away from the party venue and beat him up.

The boy, who developed fever and body pains, was brought to the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital on Jan. 7 and eventually died. His remains will be interred on Jan. 16.

Mangaldan Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena de Guzman said in a separate interview that they will wait for the autopsy result but will continue with their own investigation, assessment and counseling to the suspects.

She added they are still waiting for the decision of the victim’s family on what to do about the incident.

De Guzman also said they reached out to the victim’s family and extended help for the hospital and burial expenses.

She said their coordination with the police, barangay officials and the parents of both the victim and the suspects is continuing.