1-year-old dead after being taped up by drug-addled aunt

A one-year-old child in Caloocan City died after being taped up and kept inside a cabinet for hours by his aunt.

According a report by Saleema Refran on "24 Oras" on Wednesday, the lifeless body of Bryan Jason Agustin nicknamed Pao-Pao was found by the family in a gutter in front of their house.

His aunt Maria Ruth Mariano confessed to being responsible for his death.

"Nakagamit ho kasi ako ng droga, kaya ko po nagawa 'yun," Mariano said, weeping as she confessed.

She said she had wrapped Pao-Pao with tape and placed inside a cabinet because she was annoyed by his incessant crying as she was about to take a bath.

"Sobrang inis ko po na binalutan ko po ng tape tsaka damit, tsaka ko po tinago sa cabinet," she said.

Mariano said she left the child inside the cabinet until midnight.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) found that the baby was already dead for five to six hours by the time he was found.

Pao-Pao's mother Sarrah Naco could not accept her Mariano's reasoning.

"Walang laban ang anak ko, hindi 'yun rason para gawin niya sa anak ko iyon, natural, bata, iiyak, umiiyak naman 'yung anak niya eh, pero sana hindi naman niya ginawa 'yun," Naco told GMA News.

"Hindi po sapat ang paghihingi ng tawad dahil buhay ko 'yung kinuha ko, hindi naman po maibabalik 'yun," Naco added.

Mariano said she regretted her actions and even left a message for her nephew.

"Humihingi po ako ng tulong na makapag-bago po ako, upang mag-simula ulit para sa dalawa kong anak, ayaw ko po kasing lumaki 'yung mga anak ko na walang ina," Mariano pleaded.

"Pao-pao, si tita 'to, sorry sa nagawa ko sayo, hindi ko 'yun sinasadya... sana bigyan mo akong pagkakataong magbago," she added.

Mariano said she didn't want her two childrent want to grow up without her in their lives.

According to Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Mariano is facing charges for murder.

He said the events should serve as a lesson for the public on illegal drug use.

"Kung meron tayong nasa pamilya o kaanak na lulong sa droga, tulungan natin ito sa pamamagitan ng pag-surrender, sa pamamagitan ng pag-voluntary rehab," Bersaluna added. —Margaret Claire Layug/JST, GMA News