The nine-year-old boy who was allegedly mauled by Grade 8 students in Iligan City has regained consciousness several days after his confinement in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The victim, a Grade 3 pupil, has been confined at the ICU of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro City after he was allegedly mauled by a group of Grade 8 students in Barangay Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City on August 4, 2025.
The victim’s mother said the boy woke up on Tuesday, August 12.
“Gi-istorya man siya sa doktor kay gipangutana siya, “Unsa, tangtangon na nako imong tubo?” Mitando siya kay sakit daw iyang tutunlan sa tubo,” victim’s mother, Genalyn Ensipido, said.
The intubation kit is also expected to be removed on Thursday, August 14.
CLARIFICATION
Meanwhile, the Iligan City Police Office clarified that it was the boy’s classmate, not cousin, who reported the mauling incident to the boy’s parents.
“Ang nakaingon man gud sa IOC is iyang relative, so I expected nga iya ra pud ig-agaw. Classmate diay niya, silingan niya,” Iligan City Police Office Spokesperson, Zandrex Panolong, said.
Police added that the victim and his cousin figured in a fistfight first before the victim was beaten by the group of Grade 8 students.
“Murag niresbak ba, ig-agaw niya. Kato mao’y ig-agaw niya ang kasumbagay ni…(victim). I don’t know unsay ngalan ato basta naa siya’y kasumbagay katong iyang kasumbagay, mao’y nagpalaban atong allegedly nga nangulata niya,” Panolong added.
Police said the victim was with his classmate, a neighbor, when the incident happened.
“Midagan si… dayon siya mao’y nakasumbong, actually, dayon gadahom ko kay ingon sa investigator, relative sila pero only to find out, silingan lang. Siya ang ang nisumbong but gi-disregard lang nila kay abi sa ginikanan ni (victim) nga abi’g away-bata lang, but pagka-gabii nag-severe ang iyang condition,” Panolong said.
The police’s accounts were confirmed by the victim’s mother.
“Oo, ga-kopras mi atong higayona. Nagdagan ni duol didto ingon “Auntie, adtua didto imong anak kay gitabangan og kulata,” Ensipido said.
The victim 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.
INTERVENTION
Authorities have identified four Grade 8 students, all 13 years old, who are allegedly behind the mauling.
Police are awaiting the statements of the victim so the intervention for the minor suspects can proceed.
“Kung makaistorya na siya, ipa-pinpoint namo sa iya na mao ba ni nangulata nimo. Kung moingon siya, yes, then we will proceed. I-refer namo siya sa fiscal, mangayo na mi og resolution nga i-turn over sila sa Bahay Pag-asa o Dangpanan para ma-conduct-an og intervention,” Panolong said.
GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is trying to reach out to the families of the suspects and the family of the victim’s cousin for a statement, as of this writing.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fight.
