Autopsy Confirms Sexual Abuse in Tubungan Teen’s Death

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police confirmed that the 18-year-old girl found dead inside her locked bedroom in Tubungan, Iloilo, was sexually abused.

Medico-legal officer Dr. Owen Libaquen said the victim, identified as Candie, may have died from a scalp hematoma.

There was no indication that a weapon was used, suggesting she was likely struck in the head multiple times with a fist.

“She also sustained traumatic injuries to her face,” said Captain Alberto Manguilimotan Jr., Tubungan police chief, quoting Libaquen’s findings.

The victim had no defensive wounds, indicating she may have lost consciousness after being hit in the head.

Police said they have at least seven persons of interest in the case.

However, Manguilimotan noted that only one person may have committed the crime.

Some of the persons of interest are residents of Tubungan, while others are not from the area.

Manguilimotan did not disclose further details but confirmed that all are of legal age and known to the victim’s family.

“We will invite them for questioning and fingerprinting,” he said.

Candie was found dead on the afternoon of June 17 inside her room in Barangay Ingay, located about four kilometers from the town center.

Investigators believe she may have been killed sometime after 11 p.m. on June 16.

Her mother, Fe, discovered the body after becoming concerned that Candie had not left her room for nearly a day.

Fe said she knocked several times but received no response. She peered through the window and saw Candie lying on the floor.

Fe entered the locked room by climbing through the window. She initially thought Candie was just sleeping and tried to wake her.

She then saw ants on her daughter’s face and noticed bruises on her left eye and arms caused by ant bites.

Candie’s hair was disheveled, and half of her body was still covered with a blanket.

Fe told police her daughter had no underwear or pajama on but added that Candie typically slept without undergarments.

Candie was the youngest of four siblings and lived with her mother and 20-year-old sister, who was in Sta. Barbara for on-the-job training at the time.

Her father works in New Zealand.

Manguilimotan said Candie was last seen alive around 5 p.m. on June 16.

Fe did not initially suspect anything was wrong, as Candie often stayed in bed late. She would usually get up for meals before returning to sleep.

Fe left the house around 8 a.m. on June 17 to attend church and returned two hours later. She cooked lunch and then went to manage her stall at the town’s cockpit arena.

She became alarmed when the food remained untouched upon returning home at 5:30 p.m.

That’s when she checked on Candie and found her lifeless.

Neighbors, who are relatives of Candie’s father, reported no unusual activity except for dogs barking between midnight and 3 a.m. on June 17.

There was no sign of forced entry, and no valuables were missing from the house.