Rape-slay suspect nabbed

A 39-year-old scavenger was arrested as a suspect in the raping and killing of a 19-year-old girl in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

Roel Janoy, 39, was identified by a 10-year-old witness as one of the three persons who allegedly raped and killed 19-year-old Queennie Marie Arriesgado, whose body was found last July 20 in a grassy area in Mahiga Creek about 100 meters from the Mabolo Police Station.

Janoy denied the accusation against him.

The suspect claimed that during the incident, he was sleeping in a makeshift shanty under the Juan Luna Bridge where he was arrested yesterday afternoon.

Chief Insp. Ryan Asidera Devaras, chief of the Mabolo police, said the witness saw Janoy and two other persons believed to be 19 and 20 years old, drag the victim to the grassy area.

The witness said Queennie Marie was standing near the bridge when the assailants arrived, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and dragged her to the grassy area.

The victim was stabbed with an icepick, police said.

Janoy had no criminal records before he was arrested, police said.

Devaras confirmed that “solvent boys” often loiter in the area where the crime happened.

Janoy is detained at Mabolo Police Station pending the filing of rape and homicide charges against him, police said.

A follow-up operation to arrest the two other persons linked in the crime is underway, police said.