Student, 15, “raped,” killed in cemetery

CEBU, Philippines - A 15-year-old high school student was believed to have been raped and killed by a still unidentified man Friday evening in Barangay Maslog, Tabogon in northern Cebu.

Jay Solano’s cadaver was found by a concerned citizen past 1:00 in the afternoon Saturday at the barangay’s public cemetery, several meters away from the victim’s house.

Stab wound was found in the breast which was believed to have caused her death.

Police suspected that Solano was raped as she was already holding her underwear on her chest as if covering her stab wound, though she was still wearing her jeans and blouse.

PO2 Steve Booc, desk officer, said that Solano was last seen with her minor boyfriend Friday at past 7:00 in the evening strolling at the public market.

Solano was a fourth year high school student at Doña Liling National High School.  Booc, however, did not give much detail of the boyfriend.

He said that the boyfriend tried to take Solano to her house which is about 500 meters away from the provincial road which the latter allegedly refused.

“Sudlunon ning balay sa biktima tungason pa’g bungtod unya maagian ra nang menteryo...mao to nibiya nang laki kutob ra siya sa eskina kay mibalibad man siya (girl),” Booc said in a phone interview.

It was on Saturday morning when the Solano’s parents started to worry on the whereabouts of the victim that they even looked for her at the house of  her  classmates and of her boyfriend but failed.

It was past 1:00 in the afternoon when a concerned citizen informed them of a dead girl at the cemetery which was then confirmed as Solano.

Solano was still wearing her clothes except her underwear.

Police recovered a knife near the cadaver which believed to have been used by perpetrator.

Booc said they have invited the boyfriend of Solano for questioning and the ex-boyfriend for custodial investigation.

“Suspect lang una namo silang duha samtang nagpadayon ang imbestigasyon,” he said.

Solano reportedly broke up with her ex-boyfriend  after the latter pursued his studies in Cebu City.

Police are still doing  further investigation to determine the culprit of the crime. The body will be subjected to autopsy examination to determine the real cause of death. —(FREEMAN)