Body of missing girl found floating in Cotabato river

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Family and relatives of the missing 13-year-old girl whose body was later recovered in a river in Magpet town in North Cotabato cried justice for the brutal slay of their kin.

David Salundag Caag, 52, told authorities in Magpet town that they want those responsible for the killing of his daughter Carmela placed behind bars.

Carmela, based on the autopsy reports, was first raped before she was killed. A hard object, probably a wood, hit the head of the victim, which caused her instant death, reports from Magpet PNP showed.

David said his daugh- ter has been missing since February 25 after two unidentified males grabbed her while on her way home to Barangay Ilian.

Carmela was then with elder sister Leticia, 18, during the assault.

David alleged the suspects dragged his two daughters to an abandoned lot somewhere in Barangay Ilian. The elder daughter Leticia, however, was able to run after she kicked one of the suspects.

Carmela was not lucky, he said. David, after he knew the incident, reported it to the police.

Sr. Insp. Elias Colonia, head of the Magpet police, said he immediately dispatched a team to rescue the child and arrest the suspects.

The hunt, however, failed, according to David.

On Monday, Carmela’s body was found floating in Banlawon River at Sitio Mabisa, Barangay Bangkal in Magpet.

Authorities, using the testimony of Leticia Caag as basis, have already clues as to who might be behind the rape-slay case.

They, however, refused to identify those involved as it might jeopardize their operations, Sr. Insp. Colonia said.