Suspect in girl’s slay arrested

Operatives of the Quezon City police arrested one of the so-called "rugby boys" who was linked to the rape slaying of a 13-year-old sampaguita vendor whose naked body was found under a Metro Rail Transit (MRT) in Quezon City last Thursday.

Chief Inspector Rodolfo Jaraza, head of the Quezon City police-Criminal and Investigation Division identified the suspect as Jerry de Vega, 24, and a resident of Pantranco area in Quezon City. The suspect is now detained at the Central Police District (CPD) detention cell.

Investigators said De Vega was apprehended during a raid in his house at around 6 a.m. yesterday after a witness tagged him as one of those who allegedly raped and killed the victim, Maricel Seralde.

Jaraza said the witness also helped them look for De Vega.

The witness told investigators that he saw De Vega and his friends chasing the victim, hours before a street sweeper of the Metro Manila Development Authority found the girl’s naked body under the MRT station in North Avenue and EDSA at around 5:45 a.m.

Police said the victim must have tried to fight back, prompting the suspects to hit her with a lead pipe. The pipe was later recovered beside the girl’s body.

De Vega refused to comment on the charges against him.

Charges of rape with homicide will be filed with Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against the suspect based on the testimony of the witness, the police investigators said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe