Cebuano girl, 6, dies from beating, burns

CEBU — Physicians failed to save a six-year-old girl after a three-hour operation the other day from third-degree burns, injuries and broken legs.

Jessa Jayra Florito was still breathing when neighbors found her at about 5:30 a.m. the other day in Sitio Kagodoy, Barangay Basak in Lapu-Lapu City less than 24 hours after she was reported missing.

A close family friend has been arrested and detained on charges of robbery and homicide on suspicion that she was last seen with Jessa.

Basak barangay captain Isabelo Darnayla, who attended to Jessa, said she was tied up with straw and her body mangled with her legs broken and her face burned.

Despite her ordeal, the girl seemed conscious and was still able to answer questions when asked who had hurt her.

She consistently mentioned about a certain Belen who she said took her earrings and beat her up.

Police later identified Belen to be Rubilyn Roble, 23, a neighbor and close friend of the Florito family. She denied the charges.

Probers believe that Jessa must have been beaten up first, her legs broken and then her face set on fire with kerosene. She was dumped and left for dead in a grassy lot in Sitio Kagodoy. — Freeman News Service