Police pursue 3 suspects in rape-slay

CEBU, Philippines - Police have identified three suspects tagged responsible for raping and killing a 19-year-old student who was found dead in a grassy portion in Barangay Mabolo Saturday morning.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, City Intelligence Branch (CIB) chief, said they already have leads but could not disclose the names yet until all suspects will be arrested.

The Mabolo police, CIB and the homicide investigators had a case conference yesterday afternoon to get the real picture of the incident and to discuss the arrest of the suspects.

“Naa na mi picture sa incident and there is a possibility nga gi-gang rape,” Santander said. But Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory medico-legal-officer Dr. Nestor Sator told The FREEMAN that high school student, Quennie Marie Arriesgado, a resident of Barangay Luz, died of strangulation.

Autopsy results showed a laceration of hymen indicating that the victim was raped before she was strangled to death.

“Posible gituok ni siya or gi-compress hard kay duna may lagom sa liog, (She may have been strangled or compressed hard because there are bruises on her neck),” Sator said in a phone interview.

Arriesgado also had abrasions in her face and body due to possible resistance.

Sator clarified that there was no sign of stab wounds in victim’s body.

Arriesgado was found about 100 meters away from the Mabolo Police Station near the Mahiga Creek. The pair of shorts and underwear that she wore that day was lowered to her knees.

Despite the proximity of the crime scene and the police station, Mabolo police claimed they did not hear a cry for help. Police theorized that Arriesgado was killed somewhere and was just dumped in that place.

Arriesgado sold newspapers and tended a barbecue stall to support her studies as a third year high school student at the Zapatera National High School where she attends class from 4:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.

Her family never asked for a penny so she could save her P200 income for her studies.

The family of the victim is seeking justice over her death. (FREEMAN)