THE man, who initially pointed out the location of the lifeless body of a six-year-old child in a secluded grassy portion of Kilometer 9, Purok 11-A, Matina Pangi, Davao City, was arrested after he owned up to the crime.
A murder case has already been filed against him on Monday, September 24.
In an interview on Monday with Talomo Police Station Commander Police Chief Inspector Ronald Lao, he said hours after the dead body was found, police investigators conducted an interview with Rico Jay Lauron Labao, who saw first the body and reported to the authorities.
During the interview, he was asked how he got there to the area. The suspect said he was there to get firewood but he was told by the investigators that there was no firewood that could be found in the area. The suspect then changed his statement after hearing this. Due to his inconsistent account, he was locked up in jail, making him as the prime suspect of the crime.
Labao is now detained at the Talomo Police Station after he supposedly took responsibility for the death of the toddler.
Lao said the suspect did the crime on the same day the victim was reportedly gone missing. Labao allegedly was under the influence of alcohol and due to his state, he just wanted to do the brutal crime.
The investigators who went to the house of the suspect also found pieces of evidence that would point him as the suspect. The same kind of electrical wire that was used to tie the neck and the feet of the child was found inside his residence.
The suspect and the victim were both residents of Barangay Matina Pangi.
The body found on Sunday was identified as to be of Christine Angel Tino Laquinario, 6, a resident of Morio-Morio Kilometer 8.5 Matina Pangi, Davao City who had gone missing since 4 p.m. of September 17.
On the other hand, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Police Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum confirmed that murder charges were already filed on Monday before the court.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said justice will be served for the families who lost their family member.
He had also talked with the head of the Davao City Social Services and Development Office to look after the two children of the suspects who were left behind.
Forensic investigation is still being conducted by the Regional Crime Laboratory Office-Davao to determine the cause of death of the child.