POLICE investigators have taken into custody a 13-year-old boy in connection with the death of an eight-year-old girl whose naked body was found at a vacant lot in Novaliches, Quezon City, last Saturday.
“The CICL (Child In-Conflict with the Law (CICL)is currently under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit for in-depth investigation,” the QCPD said in a statement.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said CICL “refers to a child who is alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as, having committed an offense under Philippine laws.”
The victim was last seen alive last Saturday afternoon, playing near her residence.
“Her parents briefly left to buy food, and upon returning later that evening, they noticed that the child had not yet returned home,” the QCPD said.
“After an unsuccessful search, they reported the incident to the Barangay Peace and Security Office in their barangay,” it said.
The incident was then reported to the police, prompting a coordinated search.
“Upon checking CCTV footage, it showed the victim being accompanied by a 13-year-old male along the street at around 2:54 p.m. on the same day. This eventually led to the discovery of the victim’s body in the said vacant lot,” said the QCPD.
Recovered at the crime scene were the victim’s underwear, short pants, and a knife.
“Scene of the Crime Operatives also collected buccal swabs and fingernail cuttings for forensic examination,” the QCPD said.
