Detained man, who attacked boy, in Naga forgiven, freed

Victim's father: We are neighbors and close peers

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The father of the 7-year-old boy, who was allegedly punched by their 19-year-old neighbor, has forgiven the assailant because they are neighbors and “close peers.”

Police Corporal Richelle Munalim of the Women and Children Protection Desk in Naga City confirmed that Daniel Echavez, the detained assailant, was released at 8:30 a.m. today, March 1 after the father of the 7-year-old victim, executed an affidavit of non-pursuant of the case against Echavez.

The father’s move was in contrast to what he told Munalim last Saturday, February 27, where he said that he would pursue charges against Echavez for hitting his son, and he then planned to file a case against the assailant today, March 1.

Read: In Naga, man, 19, punches, chokes boy, 7, for ‘having no manners’,  gets jailed

Munalim said that the father decided to change his plan to file a case against Echavez because he was their neighbor and his “close peer or friend”.

“Suod ra daw nila nga kaila (He is a close friend of the family),” said Munalim about what the father has told her earlier.

Read: 19-year-old man nabbed for maltreating 7-year-old boy in Naga City

Echavez was arrested during a hot pursuit operation on Friday evening, February 26, in Purok Onion, Barangay South Poblacion iun Naga City in southern Cebu, a few hours after he allegedly punched and choked his neighbor, a 7-year-old boy.

That is according to a police report of the Naga City Police Station of the alleged attack on the boy.

Echavez later told Munalim during an investigation that he attacked the boy because he allegedly “had no manners”.

/dbs