The police said yesterday that the 14-year-old boy tagged in the killing of another minor had been in conflict with the law even before being implicated in the fatal mauling of the teenager Thursday.

The suspect, whose name is being withheld by the DAILY STAR, has been involved in previous theft and physical injury charges and has been apprehended by Police Station 2 officers several times before he was tagged in the killing of Janry Jalando-on, 14, on June 28, the PNP said. Jalando-on's body was found by a trisikad driver in a vacant lot at 21st Street, Bacolod City at about 1:30 p.m. Friday after he was told by two minors, who said they saw the suspect kill the victim, about the body.

Jalando-on, a Grade 1 pupil at the Andres Bonifacio Elementary School 1 and a resident of 6th Street, Brgy. 17, Bacolod City, suffered multiple wounds, some on the back of his head and on his neck, police investigators said.

The minors, whose names are also being withheld, said the suspect hit Jalando-on with a big stone on the head twice after kicking him.

Meanwhile, the suspect's sister, who requested for anonymity, confirmed reports that the teenager is a rugby user and that he has been involved in a number of theft cases before.

She said, however, that her younger brother is not violent and just resorts to violence to defend himself.

She also said her brother was mauled by teenagers at the Bacolod City Social Development Center once when he was remitted there by the police for his violations.

Meanwhile, Jalando-on's family had said that they will file charges against the suspect after the boy's body has been autopsied.

The suspect was still at large as of press time yesterday, the police said.*PP

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