UP hostel worker raped, strangled with own underwear

MANILA, Philippines - A 26-year-old employee of the University Hotel in the University of the Philippines’ Diliman campus was strangled with her own brassiere by two men who raped her Tuesday night, police said yesterday.

Superintendent Filemon Porciuncula, Northern Police District Scene of the Crime Operatives chief, told The STAR that Jee-ann de Guzman’s underwear was stuffed into her mouth, covered her nose and wound around her neck.

Suspect Erik Macaraan, 18, who lives in the same barangay as the victim – Barangay 178 in Camarin, Caloocan City – was identified by appliance technician Jerry Manioto, 20, who they robbed minutes before taking De Guzman.

Macaraan remains at large while his partner was identified as a certain “Dandan.”

Police said Manioto was on his way to work at around 8 p.m. Tuesday when the suspects approached him from behind along Vanguard street in Barangay 179 and, at gunpoint, demanded his cash and belongings. Manioto said the suspects stripped him of his pants, underwear and shirt, then hogtied him and gagged him before leaving him alone.

Manioto said the suspects returned around 30 minutes later with another victim, who turned out to be De Guzman. Like him, the suspects undressed and hogtied De Guzman before raping her.

Manioto said the suspects fled when a man passed by the unlit area. He said he freed himself then ran to the nearest police outpost, Police Community Precinct 17, for help. Responding policemen found De Guzman already dead.

Investigators believe that Manioto may have forgotten to rescue De Guzman – or at least untie her – as he ran away from the crime scene.

Porciuncula, who conducted the autopsy, confirmed that De Guzman had been raped. He said her wrists bore ligature marks and they have taken semen samples from the victim.