7-year-old girl found dead

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 7-year-old girl who was possibly sexually molested was found dead evening of December 19 at Estancia, Iloilo.

The body of Ann-Ann (real name withheld) was found in the inner part of the concrete wall of a telecom tower at Barangay Gogo, just 100 meters away from their house.

Staff Sergeant Dan Jerald Allanic, Estancia police investigator, said the victim’s blouse was rolled up, exposing the lower parts of her body. Her undergarment was also missing.

Her pair of shorts was found a few meters away from her body.

“We’re considering the possibility that she was raped based on the physical evidence we have seen,” Allanic said.

The girl suffered a wound on her head, which may have been inflicted using a hard object.

She also suffered a hematoma in her right eye.

According to reports, the girl took a bath at a water pump at an elementary school near their house around 3 p.m. on Monday.

She was with her two elder sisters, aged 9 and 10, and two other friends.

An hour later, she decided to go home and change clothes while the four other children stayed.

After she dried up and changed, she even asked P5 from her parents to buy bread.

But she failed to join and play with her sisters and friends.

The four initially thought that Ann-Ann stayed home.

When her sisters went home at around 5 pm, their parents got worried as she was no longer with them.

They immediately began looking for the girl.

At 7 p.m., Ann-Ann’s family asked help from village officials in looking for her.

An hour later, a 16-year-old neighbor found her body.

Allanic said they’re still investigating to ascertain who was the last person seen with the girl.

As of press time, he claimed they’re still looking for evidence and testimonies to ascertain the persons of interest behind the girl’s death.