Rape-slay victim's father cries for the return of the death penalty

Ronald Elba knelt howling at the feet of his sobbing wife, Lourdes, as they held vigil beside the coffin of their only child.

 

Stephanie Kristel Elba, a 12-year-old Grade 7 student from Muntinlupa Business High School, was found dead at a construction site behind their house on Sept. 13, according to a report on 24 Oras on Tuesday.

 

In an update on Wednesday, the victim's father said the death penalty should be brought back.

“Hangga't maari ibalik niyo na yung death penalty kasi ang sakit ng nararamdaman ko- sagad hanggang buto,” he said.

 

“Anak, patawarin mo ako. Kung alam ko lang na papatayin siya nung gabi, hindi na ako natulog nung alas-dos,” said the victim's mother, Lourdes.

 

Earlier, she said, “Kung pwede lang yung buhay din nila ang kapalit [sa buhay ng anak ko].”

 

Stephanie Kristel Elba was taken from the living room of their home by three men, one of whom snuck through the kitchen window to let his companions in. They took the young girl to the roof of the construction site, where her father found her hours later.

 

“Dito ko siya nakita,” her father pointed at a spot covered by roof sheeting. He said he knew his daughter was dead, but still tried to give her first aid.

 

“Ang resulta niya is namatay siya sa sakal, at ni-rape po siya,” said C/Insp. Romanita Bulanon, Chief of Muntinlupa Police's Women and Children's Protection Center (WCPC) in the same update on Wednesday.

 

Neighbors were immediately able to nab one of the suspects, named Reynante Odonio, who worked at a nearby construction site as a laborer.

 

“Akala ko po nung una, bagahe lang. 'Di ko po alam na tao yung buhat niya. Ta's nung pinagmamasdan ko po siya, 'di po siya gumagalaw. Sumusuka-suka po yung lalaki na parang lasing,” said an unnamed young man who spotted Odonio and his cohorts.

 

Odonio was initially reluctant to respond to the Elbas, who even printed pictures of his known affiliates for identification, but eventually yielded information.

 

“Yung mga kasamahan ko po gustong magnakaw. Tapos mga gabi na nu'n, mga alas-dos po ng madaling araw, pumunta po sila sa akin, ginising po 'ko. Ta's po nila ako gisingin, pumasok po sila sa loob ng gate, tapos po tinawag po ako. Pag akyat ko po sa may binabantayan ko po, dala po nila yung babae, tapos du'n po nila hinubaran, ginahasa po namin,” said Odonio.

 

His cohorts' names, he said, are Marvin and Jay-R.

 

Sr. Supt. Roque Vega, Muntinlupa Chief of Police assured the public that the search for Odonio's cohorts were still ongoing.

 

“Meron pa tayong manhunt operations para du'n sa dalawang suspect. Makakaasa sila (Elba) na sa madaling panahon ay mahuli natin yung mga suspects, at yung tamang hustisya ay maibigay doon sa ating biktima,” he said.

 

Stephanie's burial is set on Sept. 21. Her wake is currently tended to by her family and schoolmates.  — Rie Takumi/ELR, GMA News