Police tag 27-year-old rape suspect in killing of 2 girls in Caloocan City

Wanted: Gilbert Fulloso

A 27-year-old man previously charged with rape has become the primary suspect in the killing of two girls aged 10 and 15 in Caloocan City.

The Caloocan police identified him as Gilbert Fulloso, a native of Pawil, Negros Oriental, and the victims’ neighbor. He remains at large.

Fulloso is accused of killing Diana Rose Liza, 15, and her cousin, 10-year-old Joanna Marie Coronado.

The victims’ bodies were found inside their house at Block 16, Lot 30, Padas Alley in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City, on Sunday morning. Both had been stabbed to death.

In addition, Coronado’s underwear and shorts had been pulled down to her knees, an indication that she might have been raped although the police said they were waiting for the results of confirmatory tests.

The Caloocan police said in a statement that Fulloso was tagged as the primary suspect after they found inside the girls’ house drops of blood that led to his home nearby.

A woman also told the police that Fulloso had admitted to her that he killed the victims two hours before their bodies were discovered at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. She added that Fulloso had cuts on his small finger and right palm.

“Another witness in the area also claimed [she saw the] suspect seated right on the doorstep of his house during the wee hours of the morning of November 25 and drinking liquor,” the statement read.

Investigators who traced the drops of blood leading to Fulloso’s house did not find him there although they recovered a pair of blood-stained shorts owned by the suspect.

They also found out during a check that Fulloso was facing a rape case in Bacoor, Cavite.

According to police records, Coronado’s younger brother discovered the victims’ bodies, contrary to earlier reports that it was Coronado’s father who found them.

The crime happened at Liza’s house where her cousin Coronado just happened to be visiting. The two were by themselves when Fulloso broke into the house by destroying the lock on the front door.

Liza was found in the living room while Coronado’s body was discovered inside the bathroom.

The Caloocan police said they were conducting manhunt operations to pin down the girls’ killer.