7 quizzed on HS coed's rape-slay

MANILA, Philippines - At least seven construction workers, including a 16-year-old, were invited for questioning on the rape-slay of a high school coed in Antipolo City last Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan, Rizal police director, said the construction workers voluntarily submitted themselves for investigation.

Anduyan said they were released from police custody but not after they agreed to have their swab and semen samples taken for comparison to what was recovered from the victim, Abegail Arguilles.

“We have to release them because we have no strong evidence to support their continued detention,” he said.

Anduyan directed Superintendent Rodino Elfa, Antipolo City police chief, to gather witnesses to positively identify the attacker of Arguilles, a fourth-year student at the Antipolo National High School whose body was found in an unlit and grassy portion of Barangay Inarawan in Antipolo last Wednesday night.

Arguilles was stabbed repeatedly in the body, strangled with a piece of cloth and was naked from the waist down.