A 12-YEAR-OLD girl believed to have been raped was found dead with deep hack wounds in the neck and body in Quezon.
The body was discovered in Sitio Caghaligue, Bgy. Punta, San Narciso.
Town police commander, Major Lope Liwanag said the girl, a Grade 7 student, was last seen alive by her grandfather at 6:30 a.m. last Friday.
“Nagpaalam po siya na pupunta lang doon sa lugar na may signal ang cellphone dahil kailangan niyang mag-text sa kanyang teacher. Pero 8 a.m. na ay hindi pa siya bumabalik kaya sinundan ko na siya para hanapin,” Liwanag quoted the grandfather as sayimg.
A few minutes later, Liwanag said the old man found the girl lying dead and naked in a grassy portion of the village not far from the suspect’s house. The victim’s body bore multiple wounds in the neck and body.
In a follow-up operation, Liwanag said the suspect, Artemio Mendeja, 66, fisherman/ farmer was immediately arrested by his operatives.
Liwanag, in a report submitted to Quezon police director Col. Audie Madrideo and Mayor Pobel Yap, said they found fresh scratches at the back portion of Mendeja’ s body and arm while he was being questioned by the operatives.
A blood stain was also noticed on the suspect’s jogging pants prompting the lawmen to place him under arrest.
“And prior to his arrest, Jonry Emprese, 21, cousin of the victim, told our investigators that sometime in July, he saw the suspect touching the victim’s leg while the latter was taking a bath in a nearby deep well,” said Liwanag.
Police Intelligence operatives also saw the suspect observing the crime scene several times.
The suspect denied the charges.
The victim’s body was brought to the Pagbilao Funeral Parlor in Lucena City for autopsy.
Liwanag clarified that what happened was an isolated incident and that the municipal government under Yap and the local police are doing everything to keep the town peaceful.
