Cavite - A seven-year-old pupil died in his sleep Tuesday evening after being repeatedly hit by his father on the head and body with a thick piece of wood for being a "slow learner."

Inspector Jender Mercado, Tanza town police deputy chief, said the boy's father, Ronald Dayap of St. Agustin Village, Barangay Daang Amaya 2, has surrendered, and a charge of parricide is being prepared against him.

Mercado said that according to the boy's mother, Dayap repeatedly hit their son, Aldrin, with a thick wood, for failing to read out loud the contents of his English reading material on Tuesday.

The mother added that Dayap also hit their son when he failed to properly write letters during the home study session.

She said she found out that their son had died on Wednesday morning, when she was trying to wake him up for breakfast.

Mercado said that based on initial autopsy results, the boy died of internal hemorrhage due to blows from a blunt object to his head and different parts of his body.

Dayap surrendered and admitted to the crime, the police officer said.

as of 06/19/2009 10:53 AM