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Grim discovery: Missing girl found dead, body tied to tree

Philippines | Visayas

Grim discovery: Missing girl found dead, body tied to tree

By Calvin Cordova

THE decomposing body of a 12-year-old girl was found in this area in Toledo City, Cebu. (Toledo City police)

THE decomposing body of a 12-year-old girl was found in this area in Toledo City, Cebu. (Toledo City police)

CEBU CITY – A 12-year-old girl from Toledo City, Cebu was found dead eight days after she was reported missing.

Police said the body of Crystal Joy Abarquez, a Grade 6 student, was already in a state of decomposition when it was found in a secluded area on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 19.

Police said the victim was tied to a tree when she was found.

A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion that he had something to do with the girl’s death.

According to the victim’s family, the suspect identified as Rowell Villapana Jr. and the victim are related.

Villapana is a first-degree cousin of the victim’s mother, police said.

Police said the victim was reported missing on Feb. 11.

A security camera footage showed the victim riding a motorcycle driven by the suspect around 5 p.m. on Feb. 11, said Police Lt. Col. Rolando Barraquio, chief of the Toledo City Police Station.

A background check on the suspect showed that he is facing two counts of rape in Iloilo City, police said.

The suspect transferred to Toledo City in 2021.

Police said the victim’s body will be examined to determine the cause of death.

Related Tags

Missing person Deaths Toledo City

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