AFTER gathering the accounts of seven witnesses pointing to 18-year-old Ian Rey Baculi as the lone perpetrator in the killing and raping of Kiara Mae Namanama, 10, a murder complaint was filed against him on Friday, January 14, 2022.
Baculi was formally charged before the Talisay City Prosecutor's Office.
Baculi admitted when he was arrested on Wednesday, January 12, that he strangled, held under water, then killed Namanama before she was sexually abused.
Baculi was arrested in Barangay Campo 7, Minglanilla town where he had fled following his attack on Namanama last Thursday, January 6.
Namanama’s decomposing body was found in a cave in Sitio Napo, Barangay Tapul in the same city three days after the incident.
Baculi told reporters that he admitted to killing Namanama because he was bothered by his conscience.
However, in a radio interview on Thursday, January 13, Baculi retracted his earlier statement. He said he had three other companions in carrying out the crime.
The three other suspects linked by Baculi were later released by the police after being cleared of their participation.
The three, accompanied by their co-workers, showed the police some evidence that they were still working when the incident took place.
"Wala na gyud siya sa insaktong pang huna-huna. Siguro tungod kay gihasol siya sa biktima nga magsige ug pakita niya," said Lieutenant Colonel Randy Caballes, chief of the Talisay City Police Station.
Local police are still waiting for the result of the autopsy to determine if additional cases would be filed against the suspect. (BBT, TPT)