Lottery attendant 'raped', killed in Naga City

CEBU, Philippines – A 22 year-old female attendant of an allegedly illegal numbers game was reportedly raped and killed at Barangay Lanas in Naga City.

The victim, Josephine Cañabano, a resident of Barangay Tunghaan, was found dead with her body naked from the waist down and with severe head injury.

Police believed the victim could have been raped first before she was killed by smashing a hard object to her head.

Cañabano was found by Victoria Lasponia who, while walking with her livestock, noticed some items such as a wallet and other personal belongings littered on the ground before seeing the dead body. The latter then called barangay officials for assistance.

Police Officer 3 Gilmer Noval, investigator of the Naga City Police, said Cañabano was last seen riding a motorcycle with a male companion, who was later identified as her boyfriend.

Noval said Cañabano had just resigned from her job at the "illegal swertres" outlet at Barangay Campo Cuatro in Talisay City.

The victim's relatives believed though that her job had something to do with her death. Her mother, Felicisima, said her daughter resigned on Saturday when her relationship with her boss allegedly turned sour.

Cañabano's body was brought to a funeral home, as the police had recommended for an autopsy, while conducting a follow-up investigation.— /RAE (FREEMAN)