Missing Grade 8 student’s body found in sugarcane field

By: Glazy Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The body of a Grade 8 student who was reported missing for five days was found in a sugarcane plantation at Barangay Binubuhan, Bago City, Negros Occidental Monday morning.

Police Major John Joel Batusbatusan, city police chief, withheld the name of the 14-year-old victim, who was believed to have been sexually abused. He, however, said that they cannot confirm it yet pending the results of the autopsy examination.

Batusbatusan said the minor-victim was half-naked when found by some laborers around 6 a.m. due to foul odor.

Batusbatusan said the victim was reported missing by her family last January 1 after she failed to go home when she was asked by her father to get his cellular phone from the house of a family friend in the said village.

“The victim would regularly charge her father’s cellular phone at their family friend’s house, which is two kilometers away from their house in La Carlota City,” he said.

“Probably ginbantayan gid siya kay permi na siya gaagi sa amu na nga lugar,” he added.

Batusbatusan said they already have three persons of interest behind the killing but refused to divulge their identities as of press time.

Last Friday, a 17-year-old girl who was also reported missing for three days was also found floating in a river in Sipalay City. Police also believed that she was sexually molested but authorities cannot confirm it yet.