Missing girl, 10, found rotting inside cave
THE Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) in Central Visayas is investigating the case of a missing 10-year- old girl whose body was found inside a cave in Talisay City, Cebu on Sunday, the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
The decomposing body of the missing child was positively identified by her family.
Local police investigators are also looking into the possibility that the victim could have been raped before she was killed, said Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos.
According to PRO7 director Brig. Gen. Roque Edgardo Vega, the victim’s kin filed a missing person report at the Talisay City Police Station three days before her body was found.
Vega said that the girl’s family claimed that she failed to return home after she asked permission to swim in the river.
The official said that on Sunday morning, the local police was informed of the discovery of the body of the victim covered with a pile of rocks inside a cave near the river.
He said that foul stench emanating from the cave aroused the suspicion of local residents. When extracted from the cave, the victim was positively identified by her family.
Vega said the victim’s family has expressed belief that the young girl was abducted and raped by a group of individuals, whom they saw along the river before the victim disappeared.
“A complete forensic investigation is underway right now to determine if indeed the victim was sexually-abused,” said Carlos as he vowed justice for the victim and her family.
He said that the PNP Forensic Group is assisting the Talisay City police in investigating the case.
Vega said his investigators are also taking the statements of several witnesses to identify possible persons of interest in the gruesome case.
