Police nab man who plucked three-year-old girl’s left eye

The police arrested a 24-year-old man believed to be hooked on illegal drugs after he pulled out the left eye of a three-year-old girl late Monday afternoon in Taguig City.

The suspect, Rolly Semira, jobless, native of Negros Occidental and a visitor in the city, was taken by police authorities after neighbors mobbed him.

Witnesses said Semira mercilessly took out Kryzzy Anne Diaz’s left eye out of its socket around 5:30 p.m. after he bumped into a group of children that included the victim in Barangay Signal. The suspect is said to be visiting someone in the area.

The victim, a resident of 38-G 7th Avenue, HHSG Village, Zone-1C, Barangay Signal together with her sister Karylle Anne, and two friends went out to buy fish balls from their neighbor when the incident happened. The suspect suddenly grabbed the victim and right then and there, forcibly took out her left eye.

Upon seeing the incident, a neighbor called for help, while the victim’s sister ran inside their house and told their parents what happened. They rushed out and saw Kryzzy lying helplessly on the street, while the suspect was trying to pull out again the other eye.

The father of the victim, 26-year-old Anthony Diaz, immediately rescued Kryzzy and rushed her to Rizal Medical Center. The victim is now in stable condition though she already lost half of her vision.

When alerted of the incident, the Barangay Signal Village’s Barangay Security Force immediately responded and arrested Semira. He was turned over to the Women and Children Protection Center of the Taguig City Police for further questioning and filing of appropriate charges.

The suspect, currently under the custody of the local police, has been charged with frustrated murder in violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Meanwhile, Taguig Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga after learning of the incident, tasked the Office of Social Welfare Development to extend financial assistance to the family and to conduct a post-trauma counseling to the victim. The local social welfare office said they will foot the hospital bill.

The mayor also granted pre-school, elementary and high school scholarships to Kryzzy, who is set to attend pre-school this school year.   – Rhodina Villanueva