DNA test hoped to give justice to girl’s death

CEBU, Philippines – A man tagged in the killing of 13-year-old girl found in Barangay Ablayan, Dalaguete town last November may either become a suspect or clear his name once DNA test results are made known next week.

Senior Police Officer 3 Cleto Pia, chief investigator at Dalaguete Police Station, said the results will be released anytime next week.

Police earlier sent to the national police headquarters in Camp Crame the specimen of the “person of interest.”

While Pia did not disclose the identity of the person, he said the same surfaced and voluntarily gave them his DNA samples in hopes of clearing his name.

“Ang among gipaabot ang DNA results kay nagpakuha og sample sa DNA pero wala siya moangkon sa iyang gibuhat. Sa paglimpyo lang to sa iyang pangalan,” Pia said.

If the results match with those on record, then the person of interest will be considered suspect and charges will be filed against him.

However, if negative, then the person gets cleared, Pia added.

Aside from the person who submitted himself for DNA examination, Pia said they are closely monitoring another person of interest.

“Naa pod mi gidudahan nga duna’y posibleng kalambigitan, unya among gi-monitor aron mahibaw-an kung siya ba gyud,” he said, as he vowed that the police will not stop in their investigation until those responsible of the girl’s death are put behind bars.

In November last year, the girl was found dead, hog-tied in a ravine with her underwear stuffed in her mouth.

Responding policemen found a piece of slipper at the crime scene which they believed was left behind by the perpetrator while trying to flee after throwing the body.

They believe that the girl was killed somewhere else before her body was thrown. — Bryner L. Diaz/JMD (FREEMAN)