An 18-year-old woman found dead inside her room in Tubungan town, Province of Iloilo was positively raped.

The woman's body was found limp inside her room in Barangay Ingay, Tubungan on June 17, 2025.

The confirmation that she was raped is based on an autopsy performed by Dr. Owen Lebaquin, medico-legal officer.

“Positive (sa) sexual abuse. May mga gasgas din siya sa braso at paa,” Lebaquin said.

The victim sustained four hematomas on the head, Lebaquin added. A hematoma occurs when there is damage to a blood vessel.

Earlier, the police focused tightly on seven persons of interest identified on June 19, 2025.

The seven persons were observed to have gone in and out of the victim’s house regularly, aside from her relatives.

However, in the morning of June 20, 2025, 33-year-old Aljohn Jalbuna, a motorcycle-for-hire driver, surrendered to the authorities. He said his conscience has haunted him.

He narrated that he gained entry in the victim’s room through the window. He used his hand to cover the victim’s mouth. When the victim resisted, they both fell off the bed, he said.

He also said that the woman’s head hit the paved floor hard that led to her death.

“Ang lakas ng pagkabagok ng ulo niya, nang tiningnan ko parang hindi na siya gumagalaw. Yun pala, patay na siya at dumudugo na ang kanyang ilong. Hinawakan ko siya at ibinalik sa unan,” the suspect said.

However, Jalbuna denied vehemently that he raped the victim.

What he admitted was that prior to the incident he had a drink too many that night.  

“Hindi ko ginahasa, hindi talaga. Nang nahulog siya, inayos ko lang naman siya. Nakahubad na siya doon. Hindi ako ang naghubad sa kanya,” Jalbuna said.

According to the police, the two knew each other because the victim was a passenger of the suspect.

However, the police are not convinced with Jalbuna’s defense. 

“Sa amin, hindi kami naniniwala kasi ano ba ang pakay mo? Bakit ka pumasok at sa bintana ka pa dumaan? Para ano? Para lang manggulat?” according to Police Lt. Niel Eric Goniabo, Tubungan Municipal Police Station investigator.

A case for rape with homicide will be filed against the suspect.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to seek a statement from the family of the victim but is yet to receive a reply, as of posting time.