ILOILO — A seven-year-old girl was found dead inside a sack in Barangay Tampucao, Lambunao town, showing suspected signs of sexual assault — a crime that has shaken the town and ignited public outrage.
The victim was discovered around 3 p.m. on November 8, 2025, by her grandmother after the child failed to return home.
“Waay untat panawag ko. Banta ko ang tawo, nakabati. Ang bata ginbilin niya sa CR (comfort room),” the grandmother recalled tearfully.
Alarmed when the girl didn’t respond, she searched nearby houses and later found her granddaughter’s shorts and underwear scattered around the home of her granddaughter’s father, a construction worker who was out working in a neighboring barangay.
The girl lived with her father after her parents separated.
The grandmother’s worst fears were confirmed when she opened the bathroom.
“Gindakop ko ang sako, gindakop ko ang butkon, hambal ko, ‘Nag-iwan timo jan?… nga ara ka sa sako?’ Buhay ang paghubad ko ka higot… may straw sa liog ya, hugot-hugot ayawan ko hubad…” she said, describing how she tried desperately to untie the ligature around the child’s neck.
The girl, a Grade 2 pupil, was naked and bore multiple injuries suspected to be consistent with a violent sexual assault. She was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
“Indi ko gid mabaton ang pagbuol ko sa apo ko halin sa sako nga daw sapat. Indi ko gid mabaton nga hilaw ang iya kamatayon,” said the grandmother.
Authorities believe the assailant may have fled after hearing the grandmother’s shouts.
“The family is devastated,” said a cousin of the victim.
They plan to request for an autopsy./PN
