Dead boy found in parked car

A 2-YEAR-OLD boy was found dead inside a parked car in Pasig City on Saturday afternoon.

Abdul Rashid Balatanay was discovered by Macaria Gonda, the owner of the Toyota Altis,  around 5 p.m. as she opened the vehicle to clean it. At that time, the car was parked on Green Street in Munting Bahayan, Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

Case investigator PO3 Rodelio Olalia of the Pasig police’s criminal investigation unit (CIU) said the boy was last seen by his mother, Nerissa, playing with his 5-year-old sibling in the streets.

He added that the victim, who lived on nearby Purple Street, may have entered the unlocked car, found himself unable to get out and suffocated.

Olalia said that Gonda and her neighbors took the victim, who was found in the front passenger seat, to the Pasig City General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Senior Insp. Roberto Garcia, Pasig police CIU head, said that they were still looking into Gonda’s possible liability in the child’s death.

In January, two 4-year-old boys also died of suffocation after they were trapped inside a parked car in Antipolo City. Similarly, the car owner also left his vehicle unlocked  which made it easier for the victims, who were playing, to enter the vehicle. –Jovic Yee