INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LUCENA CITY — Police on Friday (April 7) arrested the primary suspect in the rape-slay of a Grade 1 student in Trece Martires City, Cavite province.
Cavite police identified the suspect as John Paul Baluyot, 36, a construction worker.
He was collared by police operatives at a construction site in Barangay San Agustin 1 in Dasmariñas City.
Police reported that Baluyot was the main suspect in the alleged rape and killing of one alias “Chi,” who was found near a river in Barangay Cabuco without any clothes on and dying.
The girl was immediately brought by barangay tanods to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Autopsy results showed the victim died of “asphyxia by strangulation, blunt force trauma to the body, and a deep fresh hymen laceration”, the police said.
Investigators tagged Baluyot as the suspect “based on circumstantial evidence,” on which the report did not elaborate.
The report said Baluyot had a previous case of violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act) in February 2021 in Amadeo, Cavite.
Baluyot was released after he posted bail and is now on probation.
The suspect is now back in jail and facing criminal charges of rape and homicide.
The Cavite police urged the public, especially parents and guardians, “to keep a close watch on their children, be vigilant, and report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.” INQ