Teen Girl Found Dead Inside Locked Room

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An 18-year-old girl was found dead inside her locked room in Tubungan, Iloilo, on the afternoon of June 17.

The victim, identified only as Candie, was discovered lying on her side on the floor of her home in Barangay Ingay, located about four kilometers from the town proper.

Her mother, Fe, said she became alarmed when Candie hadn’t emerged from her room for nearly a day.

Fe said she knocked repeatedly but got no response.

She peered through the window and saw Candie lying on the floor, appearing to be asleep.

She then entered the room through the window.

Thinking her daughter was merely asleep, Fe tried to wake her—only to find ants on her face and bruises on her left eye and arms from ant bites.

Her hair was disheveled.

Half of her body was still covered with a blanket.

Fe said Candie had no underwear or pajama on, but noted this was not unusual as her daughter often slept without undergarments.

Captain Alberto Manguilimotan Jr., Tubungan police chief, said Candie was the youngest of four siblings.

She lived with her mother and a 20-year-old sister, who was on on-the-job training in Sta. Barbara when the incident occurred.

Her father works in New Zealand.

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

Her mother did not initially suspect anything unusual since Candie often stayed in bed late and usually came out only to eat.

Fe left the house around 8 a.m. on June 17 to attend church and returned two hours later.

After cooking lunch, she left again to manage her stall at the town’s cockpit arena.

When she came back around 5:30 p.m., she noticed the food remained untouched.

She then checked on Candie and discovered her lifeless body.

Manguilimotan said there were no visible injuries on the victim’s body.

“That’s why we can’t determine the cause of death for now,” he said.

The family has agreed to an autopsy.

Manguilimotan said they are not ruling out the possibility of sexual abuse.

At the same time, investigators are not discounting natural causes.

The family suspects foul play.

Candie, described as introverted, had never mentioned any suitors or enemies.

Neighbors, who are relatives of Candie’s father, said they didn’t notice anything unusual, except for dogs barking between midnight and 3 a.m. on June 17.

There were no signs of forced entry and no valuables were missing.

“We’re taking every piece of information and testimony into account,” Manguilimotan said.

Police are also reviewing CCTV footage as part of the investigation.