Student found murdered

CEBU, Philippines - A 19-year-old Education student was found dead and is believed to have been raped before she was killed inside her uncle's house in Sitio Taloot, Barangay Poblacion, Sibonga town, yesterday morning.

SPO3 Darlene Banogon of the Women and Children's Protection Desk of Sibonga Police Station identified the victim as May Grace Superales, a resident of barangay Basak, a mountain barangay of the same town, who was living with her uncle at place of the crime.

It was the victim's classmates and friends who discovered the victim already lifeless when they decided to visit her upon noticing that she missed class yesterday morning.

Banogon told The FREEMAN in a phone interview that the victim suffered a single stab wound in the neck that may have caused her death.

According to Dr. Ernesto Sariego, Municipal Health Officer, who conducted the physical examination of the body, the victim was already dead eight hours prior to the discovery past 10 a.m. yesterday morning, Banogon said.

Police investigators also suspect that the victim was raped as there were signs of struggle in the room.

"Initial investigation nato mura og gilugos," Banogon said.

According to Banogon, the victim was last seen around 11 p.m. last Thursday along with her classmates enjoying the show in the town plaza as part of the opening celebration for the upcoming town fiesta.

The victim's uncle was not around when the crime happened. According to Banogon's information, the uncle of the victim owns a house in the mountain where he works to plant trees.

Banogon also noticed that the house is not really secure because the door does not have a proper lock from the inside and could be easily opened by untying the rope that served as an improvised lock.

Police are now investigating some of the victim's male friends and inviting those who were last seen with the woman.  (FREEMAN)