Still no suit filed vs man who burned toddler

THE Sasa Police is still yet to file charges against the father who burned his three-year-old daughter at Purok 26, Malagamot in Barangay Panacan in Davao City.

Police identified the suspect as Randy Nueva Cadiente, 44, a construction worker, while the victim was Rhea Mae Sandy, alias Inday, both residents of the same address.

A source from the City Prosecution Office, who refused to be named for lack of authority to speak, said that not a single complaint has been filed against the suspect.

Sasa Police Station commander Chief Inspector Emerson Pugong, in a phone interview, said that they are still waiting for the death certificate of the victim and other necessary papers before they can file the complaint against the suspect.

Once the documents are complete, Pugong said, they would accompany the suspect before the Prosecution Office for inquest proceedings. He added that they are going to file a complaint of frustrated parricide against the suspect.

Randy was reportedly drunk when he burned his daughter.

Initial investigation showed that Leonardo Contemplo Abli, a witness

to the incident, said he went home at around 8 p.m. to sleep, but was awakened by the cry of the victim.

Upon inspecting, Abli was surprised when he saw that the victim was on fire, thus he immediately put out the fire by pouring water to the victim and immediately called Central 911.

The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) doctors immediately attended to the child who later died.

According to Randy, he did not know what he was doing but revealed that he got angry with the child for her nonstop crying.

The police suspected that the father's anger stems from his wife's separation with him. Recovered at the house of the suspect is one gallon of kerosene and a disposable lighter.

Randy is currently detained at the Sasa Police Station.