DAVAO CITY — Philippine National Police (PNP) investigators had submitted the suspect in the rape and murder of a 16-year-old junior high-school student to a DNA and drug abuse examination on Sunday at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
The suspect, identified as James Barrete Narte, 35, construction worker, was arrested on Saturday night after he was positively pinpointed by witnesses as the person who grabbed the victim and the owner of a towel recovered at the crime scene.
The 16-year-old girl was found lifeless by her 22-year-old brother on Friday night at the back of an abandoned house in Purok 10, Libby Road, Bago Gallera that was wrapped in a blue plastic cellophane used for bananas. The victim incurred wounds and contusions in the body particularly in the head, which was believed to have been hit with a hard object.
According to police report, the victim was asked by her brother to buy load for his cellular phone on Friday night. When she failed to return hours after, the brother went to look for her.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Ma. Teresita Gaspan said Narte is now under the police custody at the Talomo Police Station.
A case of rape with homicide is being prepared against Narte, Gaspan said. (Lilian Mellejor/PNA)
