Farmer confesses, surrenders for rape-slay of 13-year-old in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – A 22-year-old farmer has surrendered and confessed to raping and killing a 13-year-old honor student in Magpet, North Cotabato, police said.

Senior Insp. Raelan Mamon, Magpet police chief, said Nonieto Narceso Puno was first invited for questioning by the Magpet police last Monday after the remains of the 13-year-old victim, an honor pupil of Binay Elementary School, was found in a banana plantation on Sunday morning.

But Mamon said no strong evidence was found to link Puno to the crime of rape with murder. Puno had also vehemently denied he had a hand in the child’s murder then. He was released.

Mamon said Puno left Magpet and lived with his brother, Joselito Puno, in Mati City in Davao Oriental. According to Joselito, the suspect then admitted that his conscience had been bothering him, compelling him to confess. Joselito then coordinated with the Magpet PNP for his brother’s surrender.

Mamon said a team fetched the suspect in Mati City Wednesday.

Puno admitted he was under the influence of liquor and was high with marijuana when he saw the victim walking home alone about 8 p.m. Saturday after watching a TV show in a nearby variety store. Puno said the girl was a friend and they were neighbors in Purok 2, Barangay Binay, Magpet.

He claimed that he forcibly brought her to a nearby banana plantation, where he allegedly raped her then finished her off.

Puno is now detained at Magpet PNP lock-up cell while charges of murder with rape are being readied against him.

The girl’s father, Rodrigo, vowed to pursue the case against Puno.

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