The National Bureau of Investigation is conducting a separate investigation into the death of a Bacolod high school student whose decomposing body was found in a sugarcane field in Brgy. Cubay, La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.
Pearl Joy Galve, 15, a Grade 10 student at the Sum-ag National High School, disappeared on July 29, the first day of the opening of classes, and was found dead on Wednesday.
NBI Bacolod head Manuel Fayre said on Thursday that he has assigned William De Arca, NBI executive officer, to lead the investigation into the death of Galve.
“It will be a priority case to be handled by our office,” he said.
Fayre said the family of Galve did not seek the NBI’s help, he directed his agents on his own to conduct the investigation that started Thursday.
They have recommended an autopsy to determine the manner in which Galve was killed, and if she was raped, Fayre said.
Fayre said he hopes the city government will offer a reward for information that could lead to the swift resolution of the case. A reward would draw out witnesses, he said.
Lt. Col. Lymel John Pasquin, La Carlota police chief, said they are waiting for the results of an autopsy that could confirm Galve’s cause of death.
He said the NBI has coordinated with the La Carlota police station for its conduct of a parallel investigation.
PCapt. Michael Tuburan, Bacolod Police Station 9 chief, said Galve disappeared in the morning of July 29 after she left her classroom at Sum-ag National High School saying she had a stomach ache and did not return in the afternoon.
She even left her school bag in her classroom, he said.
Galve was seen with a male companion about the same age as her at a store in Sum-ag on August 1 or 2, Tuburan said.
Janna Portoza said Galve, her cousin, had asked her to accompany her to get a motorcycle.
Portoza said she did not go with her cousin who told her she was meeting someone. She did not know the male person she was chatting with before she disappeared, Portoza said.
She and her cousin sold bananas beside the road near their house in Sum-ag but Galve stopped working when classes started, Portoza said.
Portoza said she had dreamt of her cousin shouting for help as she was being dragged into a field.
Galve’s family is calling for justice.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, in a statement issued Thursday, said he condemns in the strongest terms the tragic and senseless death of Galve.
“This heinous act is a grave injustice. I have instructed our BCPO (Bacolod City Police Office) to thoroughly investigate this case and bring those responsible to justice, in coordination with the La Carlota City police. We will not rest until they are held accountable,” Benitez said.
In light of this tragedy, the mayor said he urges “young people to exercise caution when interacting with others, especially those you do not know well. Always inform your family members or any trusted adult of your whereabouts”.
ALSO MISSING
Meanwhile, the brother of Karen Cañete, 23, of Barangay Damgo, EB Magalona, said she disappeared on Saturday, August 10.
Mark Cañete said his sister disappeared after she said she was going to the EB Magalona market and they have been searching for her since Saturday.*