Minors beat up a 13-year-old girl for allegedly stealing a wallet

A 13-year-old girl was beaten up by minors, including a six-year-old kid, for allegedly stealing a wallet in Malolos, Bulacan.

According to Joseph Morong’s report in "24 Oras," the victim “Mika (not her real name)” said she was beaten up several times by her playmates, who are siblings, after she was accused by their mother for stealing her wallet while at their house last January 30.

“‘Pag hindi ko daw po nilabas, ipapabugbog daw po ako sa mga anak niya,” the victim said.

(If I don’t bring out her wallet, she will let her children beat me up.)

“Hindi ko po sila kaya. Sabi ko, ‘Tama na po’, pero ayaw nila tigilan,” she added.

(I couldn't fight back. I told them to stop hitting me, but they did not stop.)

In the video that made rounds online, the victim can be heard crying for help as the other girls continue to gang up on her.

It can also be heard in the video that a woman said: “‘Pag di niyo sinapak ‘yan, bubugbugin ko kayo!”

(If you don’t punch her, I will be the one to beat you up.)

“Nasaan, ilabas mo na! Bago kita dalhin sa pulis, ipapabugbog muna kita sa mga batang ito,” the woman added.

(Where is it? Bring it out! Before I bring you to the police, I will let the children beat you up.)

The barangay said it was the mother of the girls who hurt “Mika,” who first went to them to complain about the victim. But “Mika” denied the allegations before the barangay officials.

The mother of “Mika” can’t believe what happened to her child, adding that she could have been simply reprimanded.

“Sana sinumbong na lang niya, hindi eh, pinabayo niya. Kahit bata ‘yun, ang dami, isa lang anak ko,” she lamented.

(She could have just reported about her, but no, she allowed them to gang up on her. Even though they are kids, there were several of them, my daughter was by herself.)

The mother of the girls reaffirmed that “Mika” stole her wallet even though no such thing was recovered.

“Talagang inamin niya sa amin, hindi lang sa akin, sa tanod niya inamin na siya ang kumuha,” said “Tess.”

(She really admitted to us and to the tanods that she stole my wallet.)

She added that she was just trying to scare “Mika” when she said that she would allow her daughters to beat her up.

Meanwhile, one of those who beat up “Mika” felt sorry for what she did.

“Nadala din po ako sa galit ko, kaya ko nagawa ‘yun. Pasensya dahil sa nagawa ko, hindi na mauulit,” said “Mariel”, 13.

(I was carried away by my anger, that’s why I did that. I’m sorry for what I did, I will not do it again.)

The mother of “Mika,” meanwhile, said they will file a case against the other party.

“Dadaanin kami sa pera? Kahit mahirap lang kami, sir,” she said.

(Even though we are poor, they cannot bribe us with money.)

“Hangga’t maari, maayos namin. Kasi hindi ko talaga gusto. Ayaw ko din gawin ‘yun sa mga anak ko,” the mother of the other minors said.

(As much as possible, we want to settle this. I really didn’t want this to happen. I don’t want that to happen to my children as well.)

The city social welfare office of Malolos has already reached out to all the minors involved for counselling and seminars for the parents.

According to Glen Juego’s report on Super Radyo dzBB on Wednesday, DSWD spokesperson Aileen Dumlao said they already identified and visited the minors caught in the video. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News