Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar directed the Laurel Municipal Police Station investigators to make sure they have an airtight case against the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators in the rape-slay of a 15-year-old in Batangas.
Information reaching the office of Eleazar indicated that the body of the victim was found in a forested area in Barangay Sta. Maria on Monday (Nov. 8) evening. The victim had just come over to her classmate’s house so they could answer their module together on Monday morning but had not returned home by nightfall, causing her family to worry and search for her.
When the teenager was found she was naked, her face covered with her clothes and her module beside her body. The Laurel Municipal Police Station found initial indications that she was raped and strangled to death.
A witness told the local police that the teenager was last seen in the company of a barangay tanod. The barangay tanod was arrested and taken into police custody on Tuesday (Nov. 9) but denied any involvement in the crime.
Eleazar expressed his condolences to the victim’s family as he vowed that the PNP will give justice to her death.
“Bilang magulang ramdam ko ang sakit at pagdadalamhati ng mga naulila ng biktima. Ako ay nakikiramay sa pamilya ng dalagita na malayo pa sana ang mararating sa buhay. Titiyakin ng PNP na airtight ang kaso para siguradong mapanagot sa batas ang salarin sa karumal-dumal na krimen na ito,” the Chief PNP said.
“Sa ngayon, hawak natin ang isang barangay tanod na sinasabing nasa likod ng krimen. I have ordered the Laurel Municipal Police Station in Batangas to leave no stone unturned in gathering evidence to the crime to make sure they get the real perpetrator or perpetrators,” he added.
Eleazar appealed to the public for those who may have information on the incident to come forward and help authorities give justice to the teenager.
“Nananawagan ako sa ating mga kababayan na kung may nalalaman kayo hinggil sa krimeng ito, huwag sana kayong magdalawang-isip na lumapit sa pulisya para makatulong sa agarang pagkamit ng hustisya sa kalunos-lunos na sinapit ng biktima,” he said. (PNP-PIO) – bny
