PNP: P500K reward now up for info on perpetrators in Occidental Mindoro student slay

The reward for any information on the perpetrators behind the killing of an architecture student in Occidental Mindoro has been increased to P500,000, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

“Meron na rin pong P500,000 reward na inilabas po yung pamahalaan ng local government unit po doon. Nagsama-sama po sila,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told reporters in an interview.

(The local government unit has offered a P500,000 reward. It was a combined effort.)

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the killing.

Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla replied “yes” when asked by reporters if the NBI was ordered to conduct an investigation on the incident. 

On June 30, the police said the victim identified as 21-year-old  Eden Joy Villacete was found lifeless in her rented apartment in San Jose town.

She sustained six stab wounds on different parts of her body. According to the police, there is a possibility that the victim was raped considering that her body was found without clothes.

Fajardo said Occidental Mindoro Police chief Police Colonel Jun Dexter Danao said they obtained CCTV showing a man walking near the area where Villacete’s body was found.

“May na-recover po sila na CCTV ng mga around 3 a.m. Noong araw na po na yun ay may nakitang isang lalaki na naglalakad katabing lugar po kung saan natagpuan nga po yung bangkay ni Eden Joy,” she said.

(They recovered a CCTV that was captured around 3 a.m. On the day of the incident, a man was seen walking adjacent to the area where Eden Joy’s cadaver was found.)

“At yun po ngayon yung pinupursue nila (And they are now pursuing that person),” she added. —  with Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News