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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Suspect in rape-slay of 10-year-old girl in Negros town nabbed in drug bust

Suspect in rape-slay of 10-year-old girl in Negros town nabbed in drug bust

Published Jun 3, 2020 12:00 am
By Glazyl Masculino BACOLOD CITY - After seven months of hiding, a man linked to the rape-slay of a 10-year-old girl in Murcia, Negros Occidental last year, was arrested by the police last week for an illegal drug offense. Mayor Gerry Rojas of Murcia, Negros Occidental (seated right) and Maj. Robert Dejucos (seated left), town police chief present the rape-slay suspect Edgie Gonzaga (standing left) to the members of the media during a press briefing at the town hall Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Karen Badilla / MANILA BULLETIN) Mayor Gerry Rojas of Murcia, Negros Occidental (seated right) and Maj. Robert Dejucos (seated left), town police chief present the rape-slay suspect Edgie Gonzaga (standing left) to the members of the media during a press briefing at the town hall Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Karen Badilla / MANILA BULLETIN) The suspect identified as Edgie Gonzaga, 21, of Barangay San Miguel, was presented to the media during a press briefing of Mayor Gerry Rojas at the municipal hall on Tuesday, June 2. Rojas said Gonzaga was confirmed to be involved in the crime after his DNA matched with the specimen found from the child’s remains. On October 30, 2019, a Grade 5 pupil, was found dead in a sugarcane field at Barangay San Miguel. She suffered broken bones and head injuries. “Although it took us seven months to solve the case, we established that he was the suspect of the heinous crime through the scientific process,” Rojas said. Meanwhile, Maj. Robert Dejucos, town police chief, who was also present during the press conference, said that Gonzaga, along with four others, including his father, were subjected to DNA examination as they were initially considered persons of interest in the crime, but only the suspect’s DNA matched the specimen found on the child. Dejucos said that they received the DNA results from Camp Crame last Sunday. “We will be filing rape with homicide case against Gonzaga and we will continue to investigate him,” he added. Gonzaga was recently arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 at the said village on May 26. Gonzaga, who was the child’s neighbor, denied all the allegations against him.  
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