Dubai: The father of a three-year-old girl who died of pesticide poisoning in Dubai said he and his wife are still unable to come to grips with their lone child's death.
Benjie dela Cruz, 36, said: "I do want justice. But I’ll let the authorities here deal with those who are responsible for the death of our little one."
He and his wife, Amy, 32, saw their daughter Aaliyah Bella for the first time on Wednesday since the suspected poisoning incident took her life away on July 29.
"Initially, the thought that I'd see her again gave me a sort of relief, but the wound is still fresh in our hearts and was reopened when we saw her again inside a box."
The couple took Aaliyah’s body on Wednesday night to Manila, where she will be buried on Sunday.
On July 29, Aaliyah and her parents were rushed to the ICU, along with three other housemates. The three year-old girl died a day later. Another Filipino aircraft technician who shared the same house with the family also died.
The rest recovered and released from hospital on August 1.
Dela Cruz, who spoke to Gulf News before boarding their flight on Wednesday to Manila, said he was completely unaware of the threat posed by the colourless and odourless -- but highly toxic – chemical used exterminate bugs in warehouses.
Dubbed as "bombs", aluminium phosphide is a silent killer and is banned for home use. Misuse of this highly toxic pesticide has killed a number of people in the UAE in the past.
"I know nothing about this threat in homes. I hope people will be more aware ... be more vigilant of their surroundings. And I hope this incident won't recur."
The tenant of a neighbouring flat were the phosphine gas was traced was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Dubai police had arrested the man's friend, who confessed that he got the chemicals from another man. When the third man was questioned, he said he got it from a fourth man and they were all arrested.
Police had confiscated the illegal pesticide that the third and fourth suspects were storing.
