The student from Bacolod City who was found dead in La Carlota City, Province of Negros Occidental was molested allegedly by her stepfather since she was in Grade 9.

The molestation was disclosed by her own mother, Jennifer Galve, and an aunt.

“Oo, nakapagsumbong ang anak ko. Ina ako eh, anak ko iyon. Sinabihan ko ang partner ko kung bakit niya iyon nagawa sa anak ko?” Jennifer said.

She did not elaborate on the details of the molestation, though, but she said that despite the situation she has continued to live with her partner, alias “Rene,” under one roof, along with her daughter. 

Pearl Joy, 15 years old, a Grade 10 student of Sum-ag National High School, was found dead in a sugarcane field in Barangay Cubay, La Carlota City on August 14, 2024.

Pearl Joy had told reportedly her aunt of the molestation.

“Sinabi niya na maliit pa lang daw siya, hinahalikan na daw siya ng stepfather niya. Tinitingnan ko ang bata parang tulala. Hindi niya masabing may problema siya,” the aunt said.

It was learned that alias “Rene” helped in locating the whereabouts of the victim after she was declared missing. However, he left the house since August 9, 2024 and was not seen in their neighborhood in Bacolod City. He also allegedly stopped communicating with Jennifer since.

Despite the mother’s and aunt’s revelation, the police did not confirm yet if alias “Rene” is considered one of persons of interest.

“Hindi pa namin ma-divulge. Ayaw lang muna nating pangunahan ang ating investigation. All angles, tinitingnan namin,” Lt. Col. Lymel John Pasquin, acting chief  of La Carlota City Police Station, said.

One of the angles pursued by the La Carlota City Philippine National Police (PNP) is the identity of the person who promised to give purportedly a motorcycle to the victim.

Pearl Joy was supposed to meet that person when she was last seen at a road crossing in Bacolod City.

National Bureau of Investigation-Bacolod City has carried out a separate investigation and looked into the possibility that there was more than one perpetrator.

“All the angles kasi kino-consider namin. We are not yet narrowing down yung particular na person of interest. Lahat kino-consider namin,” Manuel Fayre Jr., NBI-Bacolod agent in charge, said.