NBI tasked to conduct probe

THE reward offered to anyone who can give information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect in the killing of a 21-year old architecture student in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro has been raised to P500,000, the Philippine National Police spokesperson said on Monday.

Colonel Jean Fajardo said the local government unit has raised the bounty to help the Occidental Mindoro Police Provincial Office solve the murder of Eden Joy Villacete.

A report from Police Regional Office 4-B headed by Brigadier General Joel B. Doria said that the victim bore six stab wounds when his body was found in her rented apartment Friday last week.

The victim was also believed to have been sexually abused by the assailant.

Col. Fajardo said that the Occidental Mindoro PPO headed by Col. Jun Dexter Danao have reviewed available CCTV footages in the area and discovered that there was a man walking near the area where Villacete’s body was discovered.

“May na-recover po sila na CCTV ng mga around 3 a.m. Noong araw na po na yun ay may nakitang isang lalaki na naglalakad sa katabing lugar po kung saan natagpuan po yung bangkay ni Eden Joy,” she said.

The PNP spokesperson said policemen are still tracking down that ‘Person of Interest’ and have appealed to all probable witnesses at the scene to help them identify and catch the suspect.

Remulla tasks NBI to conduct probe

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to launch a thorough investigation into the brutal killing of a 21-year-old female architecture student in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

Remulla is determined to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of justice for the heinous crime committed against the victim.

The deceased, identified as Eden Joy Villacete, was an incoming 5th-year architecture student at Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) and a resident of Panganiban Street, Barangay Poblacion, Calintaan.

Villacete’s lifeless body, bearing multiple stab wounds, was discovered naked inside her rented room on Friday morning.

Concerned neighbors alerted the authorities after detecting a putrid odor emanating from her quarters and realizing she had been absent for the past two days.

Upon receiving the report, the police promptly arrived at the scene, where they made the gruesome discovery of Villacete’s remains.

In a show of support, Governor Eduardo Gadiano of Occidental Mindoro has offered a reward of P100,000 to anyone who can provide information leading to the apprehension of the suspect. By Alfred Dalizon & HECTOR LAWAS