Woman who stabbed 5-yr-old daughter in church charged

Police filed a complaint for attempted parricide against the 29-year-old woman who stabbed her five-year-old daughter with a broken glass inside a church in Mandaue City last Sunday dawn.

Police decided to press charges against Merlyn Abao despite the appeal of the woman’s live-in partner to drop the case.

Tureza Tabuac of the Mandaue City Social Welfare and Services said Abao’s live-in partner, a certain Charlie, visited their office yesterday and tried to convince them not to push through with the filing of charges.

“He said that the woman was mentally unstable. I just told him that we will really file a case because the child’s safety is at risk. I also told him to prove it in court that she was mentally unstable, and it is up to the court to decide on the case,” said Tabuac in Cebuano.

Tabuac said they are now processing some documents so the girl can stay in their custody longer.

The social worker said Charlie admitted that the girl is not his biological daughter.

“He did not show interest that he was willing to claim the child from our custody,” said Tabuac.

Tabuac said the girl has recuperated from her injuries.

Abao stabbed her daughter while hearing Mass inside the National Shrine of St. Joseph about 4 a.m. last Sunday.

The girl sustained stab wounds in the chest and left arm.

Some churchgoers grabbed the girl from her mother and brought her to the hospital.

PO1 Juliet Trogo of the Mandaue City Police Office-Women and Children’s Protection Desk (MCPO-WCPD) said they upgraded the case from physical injury to attempted parricide in relation to the anti-child abuse law.

PO1 Trogo said the fact that Abao brought a broken glass inside the church aggravated the case against her.