ILIGAN CITY -- A missing eight-year-old girl was found dead in Purok 13, Timoga, Buru-un, this city, on Monday afternoon, June 9.
Police said the victim was reported missing on June 5 after visiting her godfather near her home and in the company of another child to swim in a creek.
Her family looked for her until she was found lying on a rock on a creek.
Police Major Zandrex Panolong, spokesperson, Iligan City Police Office (ICPO), said the cadaver was in an advanced stage of decomposition, with extensive tissue breakdown, strong odor, and the presence of insects indicating that death likely occurred several days before.
Authorities are conducting follow-up investigation and autopsy to ascertain cause of death and determine if she was raped.
Her family appealed for justice and pleaded for the suspect to surrender.