Missing teen found dead in Camarines Sur
LEGAZPI CITY — An 18-year-old girl, who was reported missing, was found dead Monday in a grassy area in Pili town in Camarines Sur, police said Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Residents found at around 3 p.m. Irish Mae Payonga, a Grade 12 student in Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) in Naga City. She was covered with sacks of soil in Barangay Cadlan.
Her family, who went to the area after learning about the discovery, confirmed the identity of Payonga.
Edna Maguigad, aunt of Payonga, said Irish Mae went Friday to the Pili Capitol Convention Area to attend a big church event.
Maguigad said her uncle, who was supposed to pick her up by 8 p.m. that night, could not reach her by phone.
“If you have any information on this brutal killing, please reach out to us and the authorities,” she said in a Facebook post.
Lieutenant Colonel Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said they directed the Camarines Sur police to conduct an in-depth investigation to identify the perpetrator.
Condolences and calls for justice for Payonga’s family were posted on social media since Monday evening.
The AdNU Supreme Student Government released a statement, with the hashtag #JuticeForIrishMaePayonga, denouncing the killing.
“It is dismal and outrageous that such a horrendous and violent crime occurred,” the statement read.
Raymund Belleza SJ, director for Office of Administrative Services at AdNU, called Monday “a sad day for the [AdNU] community.”
“Our prayers for her soul and our deepest condolences and prayers to the parents, her family, and her classmates,” Belleza said.
The school’s Senior High School Student Council, meanwhile, started a donation drive to help with Payonga’s funeral service.
RELATED STORY
Girl found dead with hack wounds in Camarines Sur – INQUIRER.net
