By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A senior high school student was found dead in a sugarcane field in Barangay Magsaysay, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental yesterday.
Police withheld the name of the 17-year-old victim.
Police Lieutenant Colonel John Joel Batusbatusan, city police chief, said the victim was last seen alive around 7 p.m. on January 7.
Her family searched for her late Sunday night when she failed to go home. She was then found naked and lifeless, around 7 a.m., the following day.
Batusbatusan said the victim’s left ear was cut, and she had a slash in the neck.
Her 10 fingers in both hands were also chopped, according to the police chief.
Police recovered from the scene a bolo used in the incident.
Based on the medical results of the victim released yesterday, she was positive for rape, according to Batusbatusan.
Batusbatusan said they already have a suspect, a 62-year-old man who is living with the victim’s family.
“They are not related by blood, but living under the same roof. Daw lolo niya naman,” he added.
Batusbatusan said the suspect is the father of the new lover of the victim’s mother.
“Daw kursunada niya siguro, kay kung may mangaluyag ni kuno sa bata, gina saway niya, gina akigan niya tapos gadul-ong dul-ong ni siya kuno sa bata,” he added.
He said they already have a lead on the whereabouts of the suspect, who was identified through a witness.
He also said the suspect was nowhere to be found after the incident.
