ASINGAN, Pangasinan – A six-year-old boy was killed in Barangay Carosucan Norte after a cobra bit him in the forehead on Sunday, August 29.
The victim, Leonard Beltran, has a speech and language impairment, making him unable to call for help when he was bit by the snake.
Interview by the town’s Public Information Officer Rommel Aguilar with Michael, Leonard’s father, revealed the latter was able to call his father faintly with his dying breath.
"Yung mata niya talagang pinipilit niya na binubukas, lumalaban na ayaw niya pumikit ang huling sabi niya sa akin ‘Papa’”, said Michael.
Leonard was his only son.
The father-son duo finished their lunch on Sunday, when Michael decided to relax with his son as he lulls Leonard to sleep.
He felt something slither in his chest, but realized that it was a snake too late.
“Nanood kami masaya naman siya tumatawa pa, di ko namalayan ahas na pala yung dumaan dito sa dibdib ko papunta na sa kanya”, Michael added.
He then hugged his son and removed him in his place to protect him.
However, it was only when they got out of the house that he realized his son was already bitten when he saw blood dripping from Leonard’s forehead.
He immediately rushed his son to the hospital, but was declared dead on arrival.
He has no pulse, no breath, and his pupils were already dilated, according to Dr. Karen Ordoñez of the Asingan Community Hospital.
After collecting his thoughts, Michael and his neighbors hunted for the snake, and killed it with rage.