LUCBAN, Quezon – A missing seven-year-old girl was found dead in a cave in a forest on Sunday morning, January 14, in Barangay Palola, this town.

A MISSING seven-year-old girl was found dead in a cave in Barangay Palola in Lucban, Quezon on Sunday morning, January 14. (Photo by Lucban PNP via Danny Estacio)
The parents of the victim, a Grade 2 pupil, reported her missing to the police on Saturday night, January 13.
The victim's uncle, who was looking for her in a forest, noticed a man, their neighbor, emerging from a cave with a digging bar.
Her uncle approached the cave when the man left and discovered the child's slippers.
He looked around the cave and noticed well-arranged stones. He removed them and discovered the body of the victim.
He reported this to the police and she was positively identified by her mother.
Police conducted a follow-up operation which resulted into the arrest of "Noel," 33, who emerged from the cave and is considered the suspect in the crime.
Police Major Marnie Abellanida, Lucban police chief, said they are conducting follow-up investigation and gathering closed-circuit television footage in the area to find out how the suspect took the victim to the cave.
A forensic examination will be conducted by the Scene-of-the-Crime Operatives (SOCO) on the victim to determine the cause of death and if she sexually assaulted.