BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Albee Benitez has ordered the Bacolod City Police Office to coordinate with the La Carlota City Police Station and investigate the death of a missing high school student and bring those responsible to justice.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/14/missing-teenage-student-found-dead-in-la-carlota-city
“I condemned in the strongest terms the tragic and senseless death of the 15-year-old Bacolodnon, a Grade 10 student from Barangay Sum-ag,” Benitez said as he condoled with the family of the victim, Pearl Joy Galve.
Benitez said that this heinous act is a grave injustice. “We will not rest until they are held accountable,” the mayor said.
The decomposing body of the victim was found in a sugarcane field in Barangay Cubay, La Carlota City on Wednesday, August 14, two weeks after she was reported missing by her family here on July 30.
Benitez urged young people to exercise caution when interacting with others, especially those they do not know. “Always inform your family members or any trusted adult of your whereabouts,” he said.
Police Capt. Michael Tuburan, head of Police Station 9, said that based on their investigation, the victim attended a half-day class here on July 29 and allegedly asked permission from her teacher to go home and rest because of a stomachache.
However, she failed to return home, prompting her family to seek the assistance of Police Station 9 to locate her on July 30.
Tuburan said they are closely coordinating with the La Carlota City Police Station in their investigation.
Police Capt. Rosinie Cabuena, deputy chief of La Carlota City Police Station, said that they are awaiting the autopsy result on the victim to determine the cause of death.
Cabuena said they are continuously probing the incident to establish the motive.