The body of a 5-year-old girl who went missing on December 21 was found beside a creek in Purok Sto. Domingo, Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City, Saturday morning, Dec. 28.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the lifeless body Queenie Aguirre “was discovered in a state of decomposition — a heartbreaking and unacceptable tragedy for our community”.
“I have directed the Bacolod City Police Office to launch an intensive investigation into this case. If foul play is confirmed, we will ensure that those responsible face the full force of the law”, Benitez said.
“There will be no leniency, no delays, and no tolerance for those who bring harm to our children,” he said.
Queenie who lived in Purok Maniville, which is next to Purok Sto. Domingo, was last seen alive on Dec. 21.
Handumanan Barangay Captain Febe Legaspi said Queenie was the youngest of six siblings who was left in the care of her aunts and grandmother as her mother, Melodia Aguirre, was working as a household helper in Manila.
The father of Queenie died about two to three years ago, Legaspi said.
Queenie and three other siblings were being cared for by relatives in Bacolod, while two others were working in Manila with their mother.
Legaspi said Queenie who lived in a house near a creek could not be found two hours after she had lunch on Dec . 21.
There is only one pathway out of the house where she lived and CCTV footage did not show that Queenie had left the area, Legaspi said.
“It is possible that the child had gone to the creek area, an autopsy will be conduced to determine the cause of death”, the barangay captain said.
The mother of the child was not able to immediately return to Bacolod when she disappeared because she could not afford the exorbitant holiday airfare, Legaspi said.
Benitez said the Bacolod City government coordinated with the child’s mother to ensure she and her other relatives could travel to Bacolod immediately, with all expenses fully covered.
Melodia Aguirre and her two children arrived in Bacolod Saturday evening.
“Burial arrangements are underway, and we are working with Barangay Handumanan’s Kapitan Febe to provide the family with comprehensive support,” Benitez said.
“This tragedy serves as a painful reminder that the safety and well-being of our children demand constant vigilance and collective effort,” he said.
“The city government will not rest until we build a community where such heinous acts have no place,” Benitez said, as he called for unity “in this fight to protect our children, our families, and our city”.*