5-year-old boy lives in abandoned bus in Camarines Sur, tugs residents’ hearts

A five-year-old boy has been living in an abandoned bus in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur.

According to a report by GMA Regional TV Bicol’s Rhayne Palino on “24 Oras” Wednesday, the bus, which got into an accident in 2019, served as home to 5-year-old Pungay and his male guardian.

Residents in the area said Pungay began living in the old vehicle when his mother died, and his guardian earned money by collecting trash.

“Diyan na sila nagluluto. Kung anong oras dumating ’yung magulang, saka lang kakain ’yung bata,” said concerned neighbor Ignacio Briz.

[That’s where they cook. The boy will eat only when the parent comes home.]

“May gustong umampon, ayaw naman ibigay nung magulang. Napamahal na sa kanya,” he added.

[Someone wanted to adopt the boy, but the parent doesn’t want it. He loves the child.]

Pungay’s situation has tugged at the heartstrings of some residents nearby, including his friend Edcel Lorenzo.

“Dinala ko po sa bahay tapos inuwi ko na po rito. Ayaw na po talaga niya pumasok sa bus. Sabi po niya sa ’kin na sasama na lang po siya sa ’kin. Nakakaiyak po talaga,” said Edcel.

[I brought him to our house then brought him back here. He didn’t want to go to the bus. He said he will just go with me. It made me want to cry.]

Edcel said a child like Pungay shouldn’t live in a bus but in a cleaner, better place, “’yung nakaka ligo po siya (where he can take a bath).”

To seek help for Pungay and his guardian, GMA Regional TV Bicol reached out to the local government, which said it was looking into the situation.

Pungay, meanwhile, is still hopeful that he’ll get to study and become a soldier someday. – Franchesca Viernes/RC, GMA News