Body of missing 13-year-old girl found

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The body of a 13-year-old girl, believed to have been raped, was found at a sugarcane plantation in E. B. Magalona town of Negros Occidental last Friday, or 12 days after she was reported missing.

E. B. Magalona Police deputy chief, Insp. Leonardo Cobing, identified the victim as Rhealyn dela Cruz of Hacienda San Jose in Brgy. Damgo of the town.

The victim was also identified by her father, Leonardo, through the shirt she was wearing. He said he last saw his daughter last Jan. 27 after he sent her to buy food for their dinner and she had not returned since then.

Saldy Bulanon, a worker at the sugar plantation, told the police that they were clearing the area of grass when he found the body.

Cobing said it was possible that the girl was raped because she no longer had her underwear when her body was found although it was still uncertain how she died.

He said both the underwear and the pants of the victim were found several meters away from her body, but he added there were no witnesses on the incident. (FREEMAN)