ILOILO City – The four children of a pregnant mother who bled and died after she was allegedly attacked by neighbors in Barangay Boulevard, Molo district here underwent counseling.
A team from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the Iloilo City Counsel for the Protection of Children (ICCPC) started the intervention in a bid to spare the children from trauma and stress.
According to Terry Gelogo, CSWDO head, Mayor Jerry Treñas wished to extend assistance to the family, especially the children.
“Himuon naton ang tanan kon paano naton mabuligan nga maka-survive kag paano mabaton sang pamilya ang natabo sa ila,” said Gelogo.
The city government will shoulder the burial expenses of Lore Mae Baylon who was seven months pregnant.
Couple Chona and Joseph Agana were tagged as her maulers.
Baylon bled. She was brought to a hospital where she gave birth in no time.
The baby did not survive and died on April 2 while the mother expired on April 3.
Aside from counseling, the Baylon children were also transferred to “a safe place.”
“Ang pinaka-goal naton is kon paano sila maka-survive sa sining traumatic nga event sa ila life,” said Elizabeth Hechanova, ICCPC focal person.
She added: “Ang aton local government is doing things kon paano marespondehan ang pamilya nga naapektuhan, especially ang mga kabataan. Ang helping process naton nag-start na para sa ila. May matutok na sa sini nga case.”
Grace Centino, head of CSWDO-Molo district, said they nitially conducted play therapy, a short activity “for the kids to release the stress brought by the incident.”
Centino, who also handles the case of the victims, said they will conduct a case conference probably with the grandmother and the father of the children to discuss other possible interventions.
Baylon’s husband was in Manila when the incident happened. He has yet to come home.
In a radio interview, the Agana couple insisted they were merely defending themselves.
Chona said her husband “acted in defense since Baylon had a bolo.”
She claimed that Baylon tried to attack them, and her husband was just trying to take the bolo away from the pregnant woman.
Chona also denied that her son Cyril kicked the door of Baylon’s house causing it to hit Baylon’s belly, as alleged by a 12-year-old daughter of the pregnant woman.
According to the daughter, her mother only got the bolo after Cyril kicked their door.
Meanwhile, Treñas said the incident is being investigated by the Molo police station.
“A proper complaint will be filed as soon as the investigation is completed as may be warranted,” the mayor added./PN
