DAVAO CITY – A 28-year-old architect-engineer was raped and killed and her body dumped in a banana plantation in this city on Wednesday, May 17.
BRAGAS (FB)
Police Major Catherine dela Rey, Davao City Police Office spokesperson, identified the victim as Vlanche Marie L. Bragas.
The body of Bragas was found in the banana plantation of the Subasta Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Agricultural Cooperative (SARBAC) in Purok 6, Barangay Dacudao, covered with dried banana leaves, at around 8 a.m., about eight hours after she was reported missing at 12:30 a.m.
Dela Rey said they have no suspects yet in the incident.
She added that autopsy on the cadaver of the victim showed that the cause of death was “asphyxia by manual strangulation.”
Dela Rey said that the examination also found “recent genital trauma” which confirmed that the victim was raped.
Surveillance footage showed the victim was last seen boarding a yellow tricycle at Crossing Fausta, Calinan District.
The United Architect of the Philippines-Davao City chapter condemned the incident.
“It is with profound sorrow that we extend our deepest condolences to you, your family, loved ones, and friends during this extremely difficult time,” they said.
The group said that “her rape and subsequent abandonment in a desolate grassland has utterly shocked and anguished us.”
“This unspeakable act goes against the very fabric of humanity and the principles we hold dear as architects, professionals, and fellow human beings,” it added.