A nine-year-old boy is in critical condition, as of this writing, after he was allegedly mauled by five high school students in Iligan City.

In a Facebook post, Mayor Frederick Siao said the city government has coordinated with authorities on the matter.

"I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the tragic incident involving a Grade 3 pupil of Maria Cristina Falls Elementary School, who is now fighting for his life in the ICU after being brutally attacked by a group of high school students. No child deserves to go through such pain and violence," Siao said.

"Isip usa ka amahan ug inyong mayor, sakit kaayo ni nga panghitabo. Walay bata nga angay makasinati ug ingon ani nga kasakit. I have already extended immediate financial assistance and his family as they face this difficult time. We are closely coordinating with the authorities, aron sa pagbuhat sa mga insaktong lakang. Dili nato tugotan nga magpadayon ang ingon ani nga panghitabo sa atong komunidad," he added.

The victim, a Grade 3 pupil from Maria Cristina Falls Elementary School, was on his way home when the suspects allegedly waited for him and ganged up on him.

The boy managed to return home after the incident but later suffered from high fever and severe headache.

His parents brought him to a hospital in Iligan City but he was transferred to a bigger hospital in Cagayan de Oro City due to complications.

“Abtan to ug alas sais sa hapon paghuman ug panihapon ni suka siya… pagsuka niya, taod-taod, ni-effect dayon. Iyang ulo sakit daw. Ako giingnan, ikatulog ra na, basin labad ra sa ulo. Adlawng Miyerkules sa buntag, mao to siya, na siya ana sa ulo pero wala na nanggahi siya,” the victim’s father, Junilon Ensipido, said.

The administration of Maria Cristina Falls Elementary School maintained that the school strictly prohibits any form of bullying inside and outside the campus.

However, school officials said they were not informed about the incident until they saw reports on social media.

“Ang among information didto ra gyud namo sa Facebook nakuha kay wala gyud parent, igsuon nga nianhi sa eskwelahan nga ingon ana diay ang nahitabo. Asta ang adviser wala gyud kabalo,” Maria Cristina Falls Elementary School Head Teacher, Aida Villahermosa, said.

The five suspects allegedly involved in the attack have already appeared before the barangay.

Barangay officials said the incident may have stemmed from the victim’s attempt to break up a fight between two other children at that time.

“Ang dako natong chance ani kung maulian ang bata kay mao to’y maka tudlo kinsa gyud nagkulata sa karon magpabilin sa gyud ta nga dili maka sure kung kinsa gyud suspek kay wala man ta nakakita,” Barangay Chairman Nilo Laurete said.

Police and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) are investigating the incident.

The victim’s father is determined to press charges against the suspects.

Meanwhile, a Grade 3 pupil accused of being involved in mauling the victim appeared before the school administration together with his father and clarified that he did not take part in beating his classmate.

He claimed he was the first to be confronted by the group of youngsters and that he was unaware of what happened afterwards.

“Gisumbag man ko ni…wala ko nisukol kay mahadlok ko maadto sa Principal, nagpalaban ko pero wala sila nisukol nanguli na dayon sila,” one of the alleged suspects, alias “Alexander,” said.

Aside from the boy, four other Grade 8 students, all 13 years old, are also under investigation.

“Dili gyud nato sila pwede ma-file-an ug sumbong because they are 15 years old below atong mabuhat pagmatudlo na gyud sila nga sila responsible we will seek resolution coming from the city prosecutor office na madala sila sa bahay pagasa for their intervention,” Iligan City Police Office Spokesperson, Major Zandrex Panolong, said.

“While ongoing pa ang investigation please lang stop pud nato ang pag tag sa mga names sa mga bata pag identify sa mga probable suspect samtang wala pa gyud katin-awan,” Willy Tumaguenting of the Iligan CSWD added.