A 15-year-old girl was found dead with injuries in the lower part of her body at a pineapple plantation in Barangay Maligo, Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Police said the victim had been missing since Monday, January 12, 2026, after she failed to return home.

Based on investigation, the victim was seen last attending a celebration and swimming at a resort in Barangay Landan without informing her parents.

Her body was found by residents on Thursday, January 15, 2026, with injuries in the waist.

“Nagkulob siya tapos wala na namo nakita kung naay samad diri (dughan) kung gidunggab ba pero nagkulob ra siya unya iyang likod wala ray tatsa. Puro lang diri sa iyang mga hawak og diri niya puro na samad,” the victim’s uncle, Roberto Escaran, said.

The family believes that the victim may have been raped first as her shorts had been removed when she was found.

“Nahubo na iyang shorts siguro nagdagan siya kay ang iyang shorts na kumbaga nasangit sa iyang mga tiil niya seguro ning dagan siya tapos nadagma guro mao tung naabtan ug didto na gitiwasan,” Escaran added.

Two suspects who are both friends of the victim were taken into police custody. One is a 22-year-old rider who allegedly picked her up and brought her to the plantation and the other is the rider’s 26-year-old companion who was waiting in the area.

“Prior to that incident, ka-angkas ng suspek natin yung victim, talagang pinagplanuhan ng dalawa at para ma-satisfy sila doon sa kanilang intention,” South Cotabato Police Provincial Office Director, Col. Samuel Cadungon, said.

Police said the suspects denied involvement. However, one of the suspects had bruises, which investigators believe may have resulted from the victim’s attempt to fight back.

“So far, normally nag-deny, siyempre mag-depende talaga sa mga information na ibinibigay ng mga credible witnesses natin. In fact, meron pa nga diyan pina medical natin isa sa possible result sa medical may bruises na hindi nila ma explain saan nanggaling. So matugma tugma natin,” Cadungon added.

For now, authorities will file homicide charges against the suspects while awaiting autopsy results to confirm whether or not the victim was raped.

“Actually we are still waiting ng results ng autopsy from SOCO at hindi pa natin masabi na rape ang nagyari but as of now ang pwede nating maifile na kaso ay mga suspects natin homicide case,” Cadungon said.

The victim’s family also raised the possibility that more individuals may have been involved, which is subject of further investigation.

“Daghan gyud na sila kay kung duha, dili to nila makaya kay taas to nga babae, kusug pa to musukol… daghan gyud na sila nagbuhat ana sa iyaha. Grupo grupo na sila, kay kung madakpan ang mga kauban ani, matagaan unta hustisya ang iyang kamatayon kay kanang bata gyud, laagan man siya pero kung mulaag na siya kapananghid sa iyang mama bisag unsa oras makauli gyud na siya diri,” Escaran said.