Couple nabbed for alleged killing of student in Angeles City

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

ANGELES CITY — Policemen arrested on Saturday a man and his live-in partner in Pulungbulu village in this city for the death of an 18-year-old female student.

On Dec. 14, the body of Juana Mae Maslang was found by her uncle inside her family’s residence, also in Pulungbulu.

Police said the teenage student was alone in their house between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The victim’s body had several stab wounds.

Police quoted the victim’s uncle as saying that he was about to ask for food from the victim’s family when he noticed that the backdoor was open. He then went back to his residence and told the victim’s mother about it.

When the mother entered the house, she was shocked to find Maslang lying on the floor inside the bedroom, and blood was splattered everywhere.

The family rushed the victim to the hospital, but doctors pronounced her dead.

Police believed that robbery was the suspects’ motive because a mobile phone and a wristwatch were missing.

A follow-up operation based on the testimonies of residents in the area led to the arrest of Val Cahanding, 22, and Japanie Torbeles, of legal age, who live in the same village.

The Angeles City police said they found two t-shirts with blood stains and a kitchen inside the couple’s residence. It has requested that the crime laboratory subject the blood to a DNA examination to determine if it matches that of the victim.

Colonel Juritz Rara, city police director, said they had already brought the suspects to the city prosecutor’s office for an inquest. He said the prosecutor had recommended the couple’s continued detention.

On Sunday, Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr offered a P50,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible for Maslang’s death. INQ

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