Rape-slay suspect falls

Operatives of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) anti-crime task force arrested yesterday a 73-year-old former seaman who allegedly raped and burned to death a four-year old girl in Caloocan City last March.

DILG Secretary Alfredo Lim presented to the media yesterday Genaro Bacolod Sr. who was arrested for the death of Jonalyn Peque inside the house of his son in North Olympus Subdivision, Novaliches, Caloocan City.

Police records showed Peque was gasping when her mother Elizabeth found her stuffed inside a balikbayan box on the second floor of Bacolod’s house in Dominic Subdivision, Deparo, Caloocan City last March 3.

She suffered severe burns in the face, down to her waist and died at the Quezon City General Hospital two days later.

Lim said Bacolod was first arrested a few days after the girl’s death but was ordered released by the Caloocan City prosecutor due to lack of evidence.

The junking of the case was also anchored on the testimony of Bacolod who alleged that Peque was seen playing with matches before the incident.

Elizabeth Peque, the victim’s mother, claimed to have sensed foul play when the girl told her that "sunog lolo sakit pepe" on their way to the hospital.

The mother said she dissuaded the victim from saying more because she knew her daughter was having difficulty breathing.

"Because of the parents’ quest for justice in the death of the girl, they sought the help of Katapat which requested the justice department to conduct a review of the case," Lim said. Katapat is a television program aired every Wednesday over ABS-CBN hosted by the interior secretary himself.

Lim said it was during the case review that the prosecutors found the victim’s skull broken and her genitals had lacerations, which was enough basis to indict Bacolod who was last seen with the victim. The suspect used a blowtorch in burning the victim’s face and body.

On the basis of the medico legal report, prosecutors applied for a warrant of arrest against Bacolod that was subsequently approved by Caloocan City regional trial court Judge Jaime Hamoy.

DILG-special task force director Chief Inspector Nelson Yabut used the arrest warrant in apprehending the suspect who went into hiding in Cebu City for two months.

Bacolod denied the allegation as he maintained that Peque’s death was an accident. – Cecille Suerte Felipe