Girl, 6, molested, killed; body hidden under bed

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A pedicab driver raped and killed a six-year-old girl in Victorias City, Negros Occidental and hid her body under his bed, police said yesterday.

A pair of slippers of the victim, Kim Marie Canete, recovered at the crime scene led to the arrest of suspect Ricky Gentilizo, 22, her neighbor in New Barrio Barangay 16-A, said Superintendent Alexander Muñoz, Victorias police chief.

Gentilizo wrapped Canete’s body in transparent plastic and put it under his bed in his makeshift hut, Muñoz said.

Autopsy showed that the girl died of asphyxia by suffocation and hemorrhage due to genital laceration.

When invited for questioning, Gentilizo confessed to the crime, saying he hit her on the face and mouth before molesting her and that she was still breathing when he wrapped her in plastic.