ILOILO – The gruesome rape and killing of a seven-year-old girl in Barangay Tampucao, Lambunao town has prompted Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann Debuque to push for stronger child protection policies and intensified local law enforcement, vowing that the provincial government will not abandon the grieving family.
“I am horrified by this crime. Wala sang bata ukon ginikanan nga dapat mangabuhi nga may kahadlok kag kakugmat nga pwede man ini matabo sa ila. Gani, nagapangabay kita sa aton kapulisan nga himuon ang tanan agod mahatagan sang hustisya ang biktima kag ang iya pamilya,” said Debuque, expressing both outrage and sorrow over the brutal crime.
Police Captain Jose Winston Biadog, chief of the Lambunao Municipal Police Station, said an autopsy conducted on the victim showed clear signs of sexual abuse and asphyxiation.
Debuque said the provincial government has coordinated with the local government of Lambunao to provide assistance to the victim’s family and to strengthen preventive measures that ensure the safety of children in communities.
“Bilang inyo Vice Governor, aton papag-unon ang programa kag polisiya angot sa seguridad kag kinamatarong sang aton pamatan-on. Sa pamilya sang biktima, indi kamo nagaisahanon sa inyo pagpangalisud. Nakig-angot na ang inyo provincial government sa local government unit sang Lambunao agod mabuligan kamo. We are here for you,” she added.
The Grade 2 pupil was last seen on November 8 leaving her grandmother’s house to cross the street and return home.
Minutes later, her grandmother discovered her body inside a sack, naked from the waist down and with a ligature tightly wound around her neck.
Authorities said the Lambunao Municipal Police Station is pursuing at least six persons of interest linked to the case. Investigators vowed to pursue every lead as public outrage continues to mount.
Debuque urged police to exert all efforts to deliver justice swiftly, stressing that the government must foster communities where children are genuinely safe.
“It is critical that we work together to foster a community where our children feel safe and protected,” she said.
The provincial government reiterated its commitment to advancing the welfare and protection of children across Iloilo, underscoring that acts of violence against minors will never be tolerated.
“This tragedy is a painful wake-up call for every community to strengthen vigilance and cooperation in protecting our youth,” Debuque said./PN
