PHP 100,000 bounty offered for arrest of teen’s killers

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The city government is offering a PHP 100,000 reward for anyone who can provide credible information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of a 17-year-old girl on Wednesday.

In a statement issued late Wednesday night, Mayor Greg Gasataya condemned the “cruel and despicable act” after the victim’s body was found in a grassy vacant lot at the Reclamation Area in Barangay 12.

“What transpired is beyond reason and demands swift, decisive, and uncompromising justice,” Gasataya said.

He assured the public that the city government is working closely with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to pursue all leads and exhaust every available resource to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“No one capable of such cruelty will ever find refuge in our city,” he added.

The city government also expressed condolences and support to the victim’s family, pledging assistance in their pursuit of truth and accountability.

“Bacolod stands united—in grief, outrage, and unbreakable resolve—to protect every life and ensure that such cruelty will never go unpunished on our soil,” the mayor said.

Police reports showed that the victim’s hands and feet were tied, her lower garment pulled down, and her body bore signs of a struggle, including scratches and bruises.

Police Capt. Francis Depasucat, chief of Police Station 1, said the victim was positively identified by her parents on Wednesday night.

He said the body was subjected to an autopsy to determine the cause of death and possible sexual assault.

Based on accounts from her co-trainees, the teenager left their boarding house in Barangay 12 late Tuesday afternoon to buy something but never returned.

She had been staying in the boarding house for about two to three months.

Depasucat said investigators are looking into the possibility that two or more suspects were involved.

He emphasized the importance of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to help track the suspects’ movements.

Authorities urged anyone with information to contact the BCPO and coordinate directly with Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, the city police director.

Depasucat expressed hope that witnesses would come forward to help solve the case.

Meanwhile, Gasataya also extended condolences and assistance to the family of an 11-year-old boy who was killed by a lightning strike in Barangay Granada last week.

The mayor met with the victim’s mother on Oct. 17 and turned over financial aid from his personal funds, supplementing the burial assistance provided by the city government.

According to the mother, who is four months pregnant with her sixth child, she was resting at home on the afternoon of Oct. 15 when tragedy struck.

Her eldest son was standing in the kitchen during a sudden thunderstorm when lightning hit their house.

Gasataya assured the family of continued monitoring and support from the city government, underscoring its commitment to assist families in distress.