By Anthony Giron CAMP GARCIA, Cavite — Police believed they have solved the rape-slay case of a university student with the arrest of two suspects in a buy-bust operation at Hillsview Royale Subdivision in Barangay Timalan Balsahan, upland Naic municipality. Superintendent Janet L. Arinabo, Naic police chief, said Thursday that charges were already filed against Jonard Ditilara Panesa, alias “Toto,” 19; and Jonathan Otazo, both construction workers, in connection with the drug operation and the gruesome death of Mitchie T. Araña, a 20-year-old scholar from the Cavite State University (CavSU)-Rosario. Araña’s decomposing body was found in a mound of mud, stones and woods at a creekside in Phase III, Hillsview Royale Subdivision, last September 26, two days after she was reported missing by her family. The lady was naked waist down and bore strangulation mark. Her body was found about one kilometer from her house. Arinabo said that Panesa, a native of Camalig, Albay; and Otazo, a native of Samar, Leyte, were arrested last Tuesday in a buy-bust operation also at Hillsview Royale Subdivision. Both Panesa and Otazo, who were tipped off by residents on their drug activities, were staying at a housing project barracks near the site where Araña’s body was found, Arinabo said. Arinabo said that Panesa was earlier tagged as one of the 12 “persons of interest” in Araña’s case after a group of workers and security guards at the project site were invited at the police station for questioning. The chief of police said that when interrogated on the drug arrest and Araña’s case, Panesa allegedly admitted his involvement in the rape-slay but said he did not kill the victim. Panesa, in his confession before his counsel, pinpointed Otazo as the one who killed Araña by strangulation with the use of the string of her short pants.