A MAN was accused of sexually abusing and killing his two young stepdaughters inside their house in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, was arrested by the local police in a hot pursuit operation which also led to the early solution of the gruesome case, Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) Director Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. told the Journal Group on Saturday.

“We have solved this rape with double homicide case just hours after the bodies of the two victims were discovered, thanks to the immediate reporting of the case to the local police,” said the PRO11 director in a report to the Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

Silo said that before the suspect’s arrest, a concerned citizen called up the Sta. Cruz Municipal Police Station (MPS) to report the discovery of the bodies of the two victims inside their house in Purok Mangga, Landing, Barangay Inawayan in Sta. Cruz municipality around 6:00 a.m. Friday.

Immediately, local policemen led by Staff Sergeants Frederico Laranio and Alexis Bañanola Jr. and Corporal Mencie Lopecillo rushed to the scene where they discovered the bodies of the victims, a 15-year-old girl, and her 9-year-old sister lying lifeless in their bed.

Silo said that the lower garment of the teenager was also found already removed.

During the early stages of the investigation and crime scene processing, the local policemen found out that around 1:00 a.m. Friday, a young neighbor of the victims heard the two sisters shouting for help, although the witness just ignored it.

However, at around 5 in the morning, the same witness told the local police that he went to the victims’ house to check on them.

The witness said he was shocked to discover the bodies of the two in their room, prompting him to report the matter to his mother quickly.

Other neighbors of the victims called up the police to report the incident.

Investigators learned that the two victims were living with their stepfather, a resident of Cotabato City who was not around then.

Silo said that the Sta. Cruz MPS coordinated with the Police Regional Office 12 (PRO12) for the possible interception of the suspect as the bodies of the victims were brought to a local funeral parlor for autopsy, DNA examination, and vaginal swab.

The official said that at around 10:30 a.m. Friday, police officers pursuing the suspect arrested him in Banisilan, North Cotabato. A search of his belongings yielded an improvised 12-gauge shotgun and a plastic sachet containing suspected shabu.

The suspect is now under the custody of the Sta. Cruz MPS, facing criminal charges, said Silo.