Stepfather of murdered Grade 10 student surfaces, denies involvement in her death
BACOLOD CITY – The stepfather of a 15-year-old Grade 10 student from Barangay Sum-ag here who was found dead recently in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental appeared before the police on Tuesday, August 20, and denied involvement in her death.

Police refused to disclose more details as the investigation of the case is ongoing.
Her stepfather gained widespread attention on social media after he was linked to the incident after he reportedly went missing at the height of the investigation.
He appeared to clear his name after learning that he was considered as a person of interest in the case.
In a radio interview, he said that he has nothing to do with her death. He said that he is ready to face the allegations against him as he is innocent.
He said that he was with his live-in partner, the victim’s mother, and the victim’s sibling when they learned that she went missing on July 29.
He reportedly left their house because of a family problem but he continued communicating with the victim’s mother.
Police said the stepfather visited the victim’s mother at their home in Barangay Sum-ag recently to discuss the problem.
The stepfather sought the assistance of the police for his safety.
Police have yet to officially speak on a significant development on the case as investigation continues.
The victim’s body was found in a sugarcane field in Barangay Cubay on August 14, two weeks after she was reported missing by her family on July 29.
Mayor Albee Benitez recently offered a P50,000 cash reward for any information that would enable the police to solve the case.