ORMOC CITY– The body of a six-year old girl was found dead in an abandoned house and was suspected to have been raped.
The tragic incident was reported on the evening of June 17, 2025, in Barangay Cansiboy, Burauen, Leyte.
The victim was identified as a local resident of the barangay. The suspect, known by the alias “Amiel,” a 50-year-old married farm laborer, and the witness, “Risa,” a 43-year-old mute woman and the victim’s aunt, are also residents of the same barangay.
According to police, at around 11:20 pm, a certain alias “Videl” personally reported the incident at the Burauen Municipal Police Station (MPS), stating that a possible homicide had occurred in their community.
Responding to the report, personnel from Burauen MPS immediately proceeded to Barangay Cansiboy to investigate.
Upon arrival, they were approached by a visibly distressed witness who communicated via sign language. She pointed to the suspect and narrated that she saw him allegedly seize the child and bring her into an abandoned house nearby. She further described how he used torn pieces of the victim’s clothing to gag her.
Initial police investigation revealed that at approximately 7 pm, the victim was at home having dinner with her grandmother, cousin, and aunt. After the meal, the child’s grandmother—who is a barangay tanod—left for duty at the nearby outpost. When she returned around 9 pm, the victim was no longer in the house, prompting the family to launch a search.
During the search, the suspect, who had joined the search efforts, suddenly went to an abandoned house near the family’s residence and shouted that the child was inside. When asked how he saw the victim in the dark, he claimed she was visible due to a light.
The child’s grandmother recounted that upon retrieving her granddaughter, she noticed bleeding from the child’s private parts.
The victim was immediately rushed to Burauen District Hospital aboard a barangay rescue vehicle but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
