A 17-year-old boy with special needs was mauled by a group of male persons in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City. 

The incident was caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

The CCTV video showed that a group of males attacked a person in black t-shirt. The perpetrators held the hands of the person in black, punched, kicked, choked, and bashed him with a steel pipe.

The victim was identified as alias “Tantan,” a person in the autism spectrum. 

“Maraming pasa sa mukha. Sipa, sakal, suntok, mga mahigit 30 siguro. As in ang sakit-sakit,” Marjun Velano, a brother of the victim, said. 

Alias “Tantan” said that he was heckled by the group prior to the attack. 

“Tinawag nila akong baliw. Hinampas ng tubo sa likod. Marami sila, apat sila. Masakit ang ulo ko,” Tantan said. 

According to a few residents, Tantan has been bullied constantly because of his condition.

“Akala nga namin nasagasaan siya, iyon pala, sinaktan siya. Basta napipikon siya kapag sinasabihan siya nang masama,” Maymay, a resident, said. 

Tantan’s family reported the incident immediately at the barangay hall and at the police station.

The four suspects have been identified, two of them are persons of minor ages, and are residents of the said barangay. 

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to seek a comment from the suspects, but they refused an interview. 

"We tried our best na hindi na umabot sa korte. Nag-offer rin ang respondents na handa silang humarap, pero ang complainant decided na magsampa sa court," according to Elvis Olivares, chairman of the barangay Lupong Tagapamayapa (pacification committee).

Tantan’s family is set to file charges for physical injury against the suspects.  

"Kung pababayaan namin, how about sa ibang PWD [person with disability]? Hindi lang ito para sa kapatid ko,” Marjun stressed. 

The news team went to the police station for a statement, but the police pointed out that the Lupon has already investigated the incident. 

Further, Tantan’s family confirmed that the barangay has issued a Certificate to File Action, and that they have pursued the filing of a complaint in court. 

According to Jessica Agsam, Special Education teacher, it is important to be mindful of persons in the autism spectrum.

“Hindi nila kayang lumaban kasi may kakulangan, kasi special sila. Mabilis silang magalit especially kapag tinawag silang baliw, naiinsulto sila,” Agsam pointed out.