Man faces raps over Grade 9 student’s death

MANILA, Philippines — An 18-year-old man is facing murder charges after he and three others beat up a Grade 9 student in Quezon City, who spent a week in a hospital before he died.

Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, director of the Quezon City Police District, said yesterday they initially filed frustrated murder charges against Joselito Valeriano, but upgraded the complaint to murder after the victim, 14-year-old Jaycris Galindez, died at the East Avenue Medical Center on Nov. 25.

Galindez has been in coma days after the incident, which occurred in Barangay San Bartolome on Nov. 18.

Investigation showed that the victim had just left the San Bartolome Elementary School along Quirino Highway when Valeriano and three boys aged 15 to 17 beat him up.

Torre said the suspects hit Galindez with a rock on his head and body.

“Ang pagkakasabi ng mga witnesses at mga suspects, maporma itong biktima. Nakursunadahan siguro,” Torre said.

The victim was able to get to his house. His relatives rushed him to the hospital after he complained of severe headache.

Despite efforts by doctors to save him, Galindez went into a coma and died after a week.

Valeriano remains under police custody. The minor suspects were turned over to the local social worker office.