- A 15-year-old girl was allegedly killed on her way to school in Argao, Cebu
- Police arrested three suspects who are believed to be drug addicts
- The three men are neighbors of the victim, and at least one is said to be a relative
MANILA, Philippines – A 15-year-old honor student from Argao, Cebu was reportedly killed on her way to school on Monday morning, March 7. The three suspects are believed to be drug addicts who all happen to be her neighbors.
Jezreel Tahanlangit Higida, a Grade 8 student of Bulasa National High School in Barangay Bulasa in Argao was last seen walking the three-kilometer road leading to her school on Monday after leaving their house around 6 am. She never showed in school that day.
Her lifeless body was found after midday Monday in a grassy, vacant lot around 300 meters from her house in Sitio Tiposo of the same village. She was still wearing her uniform and bore wounds to her face.
Investigators believed she may have been struck in the head by a hard object – possibly a rock – that caused her death. Her hands were reportedly in crisscrossed position as if protecting her face.
Suspects
Authorities have arrested 3 men five hours after the girl’s body was discovered. They happen to be all residents of the same barangay and neighbors of the victim.
Police identified the arrested suspects as Raymond Mansueto Albuera, 22; Rowin Saraosos, 41, and Elmo Judilla Relatibo, 24. All bore scratches on their face and body.
A witness told the police the three men are drug addicts who had been drinking in a hut since Sunday after one of them won in an illegal gambling.
Not raped
Saraosos claimed he saw his two companions kill the girl but insist he did not participate in committing the crime. He also revealed it was Relativo who struck the girl with a rock.
However, Albuerra, who surrendered to the police and admitted to committing the gruesome crime, identified Saraosos and Relativo as his cohorts. He is also said to be a relative of the victim.
Initial reports said the girl’s underwear was pulled down to her thighs. However, DYLA Cebu said in a Facebook post that the autopsy revealed that the victim was not raped, although the suspects may have tried but did not succeed because she was wearing a ‘maong’ shorts.
Witness
A rock around the size of a human head and stained with blood had also been recovered from the crime scene and taken to the police station for examination.
Argao Police Chief Senior Insp. William Homoc said they are studying Saraosos’ claim that he saw his two companions kill the victim, and tap him as a potential witness.
All three suspects are now under police custody while murder charges are being readied against Relativo and Albuera.
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