Pa denies killing baby

By: Jomarie A. Billones ROXAS City – A 33-year-old father denied accidentally killing his one-month-old baby girl when he beat up his live-in partner who was carrying the child at Brgy. Old Guia, Maayon, Capiz Friday afternoon. Richard Osorio came out in the open Sunday afternoon to clear his name on the death of his second child with Joyce Dipon. The father has asked the help of the local authorities to conduct an autopsy on the child to determine the cause of death saying the baby was suffering from pneumonia. “How could I accidentally hit the baby who was lying on the cradle while having a heated conversation with my live-in partner?” he asked. But Dipon said the baby was accidentally hit by Osorio when he punched her in the middle of a heated conversation Friday. She claimed the baby sustained hematoma on the face and ear due to Osorio’s punch. She claimed losing two teeth in the scuffle with Osorio. Osorio admitted beating his live-in partner but he did it because of her reckless and unreasonable words against him. “She is an irresponsible wife and mother to our two children the reason why I sometimes beat her,” he added. With the help of some residents, the baby and Dipon were brought to Bailan District Hospital (BDH) in nearby Ponteverda, Capiz. The attending doctor advised Joyce to transfer the baby to Roxas City because of the baby’s critical condition. According to Dr. Sandra Sorongon, Maayon rural health officer, the baby bore no bruises or hematoma when examined by Dr. Sonny Abella-Vito at the BDH. She said the baby may have died due to infection. The attending physician declared the baby dead upon arrival at Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital here. The 30-year-old Dipon claimed Osorio beat her each time he was drunk. Osorio and Dipon have been living together for six years with their two children.