7 face charges for rape-slay of girl in Marikina

Police are set to file charges today against the seven suspects in the rape-slay of a 10-year-old girl in Marikina City last Friday.

This developed as Melvin Arazola, 25, the prime suspect in the rape-slay of Ma. Cristina Suyo, a grade 4 student, was found facing rape charges filed by an 11-year-old girl in 1999.

Arazola has confessed to the crime. He implicated six others, his uncles Cesar, 51, and Claro; cousins, Noel and Rizaldy and drinking buddies Ferdinand Miranda, 24, and Allan Gepiga.

Police said the seven suspects will be charged with rape and murder in the Marikina City Prosecutor’s Office.

Suyo’s body, which was placed in a black bag, was found by a neighbor in a sewer in Narra street in Barangay Marikina Heights. Her private parts was swollen and she bore 14 stab wounds.

The last time Suyo was seen alive was Friday night when she bought something from a nearby store.

So far, only Arazola had his statement taken by police investigators. The police have yet to get the statements of the six other suspects in the presence of their counsels, to determine exact charges to be filed against them.

The police also submitted to the crime laboratory in Camp Crame the evidence retrieved from the Arazola residence including a pair of blooded short pants.

"We are waiting for the results of the drug tests on the suspects and the autopsy report of the victim before filing the charges," said Recarde Sto. Domingo, Marikina City police criminal investigation division chief.

Police investigators have confiscated several bladed weapons found inside Arazola’s house to identify the weapon used to kill Suyo. – Non Alquitran