Davao del Norte grieves murder of 2 girls
Health workers move the body of Nike Andyriana Kassim, 18, who was found dead on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in a grassy area in Purok Pine Tree, Barangay Magugpo North, Tagum City in Davao del Norte. (Photo by Ruel Dagsangan)
TAGUM CITY — The local government of Davao del Norte is outraged over the killings of two girls less than a week apart.
Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib has asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to “immediately conduct a thorough and impartial investigation” into the deaths of Monalisa Pagharion, 9, and Nike Andyriana Kassim, 18.
“I am deeply alarmed and disturbed by the recent spate of killings in Tagum City,” Jubahib said in a statement.
“The cold-blooded and brutal murders left the entire province in a state of shock and mourning,” he added.
READ: Missing 18-year-old girl found dead in Tagum City, Davao del Norte
Kassim, a Grade 12 student of La Filipina National High School, was found dead at a grassy lot at Purok Pine Tree, Sitio Suaybaguio, Magugpo North village, at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
This was three days after she was last seen inside a convenience store in the village late Saturday evening.
Her family told a local radio station that the victim was able to send a personal message to a colleague, saying that “she was being raped at Suaybaguio.”
Kassim’s body is set to undergo autopsy on Thursday.
She was a senior high student at La Filipina National High School.
Meanwhile, on Thursday last week, the decomposing body of nine-year old Monalisa Pagharion was discovered by residents at a secluded area near an elementary school in Apokon village.
READ: Decomposing body of missing 9-year old girl found near Tagum school
The Grade 1 pupil failed to come home after taking her younger sister to kindergarten class at 6:30 a.m. on April 17.
She was reportedly sexually abused before she was killed, said Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy who was quoting autopsy results.
“There are witnesses. We have encouraged the family to file a case against the suspect,” Uy told reporters.
He said Pagharion’s assailant was already identified as a non-resident.
Davao del Norte police chief Col. Antonio Alberio Jr. said the two incidents were not related.
“Both are isolated cases and investigators are looking into many angles,” he said.
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