UE clerk raped, killed

MANILA, Philippines - A senior clerk at the University of the East’s guidance counselor’s office was found dead and believed to have been raped in her house in Sampaloc, Manila Monday afternoon.

The body of Rowena Calo, 42, was found naked on her bed, with pillows covering her mouth and genitals. She had been gagged and a woman’s black belt was looped around her neck, investigators said.

According to a police report, Calo’s sister, Rizza, had visited her house, which the victim had been renting, at around 7:30 a.m. Monday and was the last person to see the victim alive.

Rizza told police she received a call from Calo’s officemate and friend, who told her that her sister did not report for work. She started calling Calo on her cell phone, but the victim did not answer.

Rizza said she called a cousin, Ronald, and asked him to check on Calo. He and their aunt, Ana, went to Calo’s house on Negros street and found the main door and the two bedrooms locked.

Ronald used a chair to peer through slats above the door and saw his cousin’s body, police said.

Calo’s landlady told police that “PJ,” who rents the house beside the victim’s, had left Monday without giving notice. Investigators said there were indicators that PJ left the house in haste and they are trying to locate him.