Body of child run over by train in Manila yet to be claimed from mortuary

The body of a child who was run over by a train in Manila has yet to be claimed from a mortuary nearly a week after the incident.

In Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, the incident happened along the railways of Philippine National Railways (PNR) at the intersection of Antipolo and Ipil Streets in Sta. Cruz, Manila on April 12.

The disfigured body of the victim, named only as Ahmad, was discovered beneath the train.

Ahmad is approximately nine to twelve years old.

A certain Ding, 11-years-old, narrated that he and his cousin were playing with the victim when the incident happened.

“Niyaya po kami ng pinsan ko po na magbatuhan. Tapos tumigil na po kami dahil may dumaan na tren. Sinigawan ko po siya – Ahmad nandiyan na ang tren. Tapos pag-andar ng tren wala na siya, nasagasaan na siya,” Ding narrated.

(My cousin invited us to throw stones. Then we stopped because a train passed by. I shouted at him – 'Ahmad, the train is already there.' When the train moved again, he has been run over.)

Until now, the victim's body remained unclaimed at Funeraria Cruz.

Meanwhile, the vehicular and traffic investigation section already has the body number of the runaway train and the name of the machinist who was operating it.

“Kumukuha kami ng advise ngayon sa legal office ng MPD (Manila Police District) kung ano pwedeng legal ways para makapag-file tayo ng kaso regarding du’n sa nangyari sa bata,” Police Lieutenant Tom Jay Fallar, officer in charge of motor vehicle inspection system, said.

(We are now taking advice from the legal office of the MPD on what are the legal ways for us to file a case regarding what happened to the child.)

Fallar said the investigators are also communicating with officials of PNR.

“Handa naman daw po silang magbigay ng pinansyal na tulong sa pamilya, kung saka-sakaling may mag-claim po,” he said.

(They said they are ready to provide financial assistance to the family, in case someone claims.)

GMA News sought the PNR office for comment but it did not give an interview.—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News