Pa charged for dousing his 4-year old son with gasoline

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A father who doused his 4-year old son with gasoline has been charged with violations of Republic Act No. 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law. 

                                               PHOTO REY LEBAQUIN, JR.

Russel Zausa, 37, resident of Barangay Bulabod in Malinao, Aklan appeared to be drunk and emotional, was arrested by Malinao and Kalibo police in a hot pursuit operation. 

According to 35-year old Cherry Zausa, her husband was drunk and claimed they had been arguing in the evening of February 25 at around 8 p.m.

“Galing siya sa trabaho at lasing ang asawa ko. Noong isang gabi, sinisira niya ang pinto ng bahay gamit ang kalaykay...umutang siya ng gasolina sa kalapit na tindahan at may dalang lighter. Nadamay pa ang bata,” she added. 

The husband returned to his own home with a jug of gasoline and apparently attempted to put the house and – family - on fire.

Calling out for help, the neighbors grabbed a blanket and covered him up. The critically wounded little boy was then rushed to Aklan provincial hospital in Kalibo, Aklan. 

The remorseful father said he meant no harm for his son and he was not trying to kill his wife and two sons, aged 4 and 11. Cherry, however, admitted that “this may not have been the first time Russel maltreated her.”

“Sinisira din niya ang mga gamit namin pag lasing siya. Araw araw kaming nagtatalo sa bahay. Pag may pera at may trabaho siya, lagi siyang umiinom. Napakulong ko siya dati dahil sa kalasingan,” she said. 

After the incident, photographs of the 4-year old boy in a hospital bed with severe burns went viral in Facebook. Many netizens slammed the father’s maltreatment of his son, who is suffering in hospital with third-degree burns to his chest, leg and body.

Zausa was detained at Aklan Rehabilitation Center in Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan after he failed to post bail of P80,000. He was arrested in Aklan provincial hospital over the weekend when he tried to visit his 4-year old son. 

 

The article was originally published by independent online blog Aklan Forum Journal. The unrestricted use in print or radio, publication and distribution of articles are allowed provided the original author and Aklan Forum Journal are credited.