2 children raped, killed

TWO children aged three and eight were raped and killed in a remote village in Zamboanga del Sur province, a police official said.

In a belated report, Tigbao police officer-in-charge Senior Inspector Norbert Velonza said they have yet to ascertain the exact time of the incident, citing the victims were found dead around 6 a.m. of Saturday.

Velonza said the victims, who bore contusions and multiple lacerated wounds, were found dead and naked at a hilly and grassy area near their residence in the village of Limas in Tigbao town.

Velonza said the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) recovered from the crime scene one stone weighing one kilogram and an orange T-shirt with bloodstains believed to be worn by suspect prior to the incident.

He said a manhunt operation is underway to arrest the suspect Sabate Cobio, alias Tata, who was tagged in the rape-slay of the two children.

He said Cobio has gone into hiding, adding the suspect was not around when they went to his residence during a follow-up operation.

Velonza said they already alerted all the other village officials in Tigbao town to help them locate and arrest Cobio.

Velonza said they have also coordinated with the police in other towns of Zamboanga del Sur and in other parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula to assist them in arresting the suspect.