Victim is from Brgy. Luz: High school stude raped, then killed

CEBU, Philippines - A 20-year-old woman believed to have been raped was found dead in a grassy area in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Police identified the fatality as Quennie Marie Arriesgado, a high school student and a resident of Barrio Luz.

The body was discovered by PUJ conductor Ramil Noynay, 32. Noynay, a resident of Barangay Basak-Pardo, said he went to a grassy area near the Mahiga Creek at J. Luna Avenue supposedly to answer the call of nature at past 5 a.m. yesterday when he found the body.

He immediately proceeded to the Mabolo Police Station to report what he saw.

The victim, about 4’7’’ tall, had a short hair and fair complexion. She wore a dark shirt and blue basketball shorts. She was found lying on her back, her underwear and shorts lowered down to her thighs.

Crime scene investigation showed that the victim’s private part was bloodied and her face had a contusion.

Police recovered from the crime scene two pairs of sandals and a stone, believed to have been used by the assailant in striking the victim’s face.

PO1 Merlo Laborte of the Homicide Section said the victim’s mother told them that the victim was a tomboy and worked as a helper at a barbeque stand.

The victim is a high school student and had been living with her grandmother after running away from home a long time ago, the mother told the police.

Laborte said they are now finding out who was last seen with the victim.

Senior Supt. Natu-el defended his men following negative remarks against the Mabolo Police for allegedly failing to respond to the rape-slay incident near its police station.

“Bisan pa og duol ra kaayo or bisan pa naa ra tapad nimo, di gyud ka makahibawo kay wa ma’y nakabantay,” said Natu-el. (Even if it happened beside the station, no one noticed anything.)

He said if someone had noticed the commotion and reported immediately to the police, they could have responded. “Bisan gani sa mga jails, nay inmates maghikog, di gani kabantay ang kaubang inmate kay itunong ra kung matog sila. That’s unexpected man gud.”

 Ayuman said the victim was probably still alive when she was dragged to the area. It appeared that she fought her perpetrator based on the grass leaves found in her hands.

Ayuman said the victim might have answered the call of nature and went to the place but ended up raped and killed. Police also found what appeared to be a stab wound on the victim’s stomach, probably from an ice pick.

Ayuman said they will talk with the victim’s peers who could give information on the incident. One of the pair of slippers recovered from the crime scene was believed to be owned by the perpetrator.

The body is now being autopsied at Surelife Funeral Homes to determine the cause of her death and to find out if she was indeed raped. — /JPM (FREEMAN)