A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) was formed to investigate the death of two young female victims from Pangasinan, whose bodies were found in Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet on Oct. 31.
Police Regional Office-Cordillera Information Officer, Cpt. Marnie Abellanida said the task group will soon report why 19-year-old Andrea Rabara Quiros and 16-year-old Anika Columbio Principe were killed and thrown along Palispis-Aspiras (Marcos) Highway.
Both victims were found with their hands bound and heads covered at the ravine at Sitio Indonas, Taloy Sur.
“Nagsasagawa po ang ating mga imbestigador ng backtracking sa mga activities ng mga biktima para malaman iyong mga ginawa nila prior sa incident,” Abellanida said.
Tuba Municipal Police Station Chief, Cpt. Jeremias Toyokan, said police investigators are also in coordination with the Urdaneta City Police Station in investigating the death of the victims.
Toyokan said the victims might have been dead before they were transported to Tuba and thrown around 30 meters away from the main highway. The ravine is far from the residential areas and is dense with vegetation.
Cpt. Abraham Laza of the Benguet Police Provincial Office, in an interview with Bombo Radyo, said investigators found no personal belongings of the victims in the area.
The police command is still waiting for the autopsy reports to establish the cause of the victims’ death.
Based on the initial investigation, the bodies were found by a resident from the area, who later called the attention of the Tuba police.
The victims were identified by Master/Sgt. Albert Quiros, father of Andrea and uncle of Anika, who is assigned at the Urdaneta City Police Office.
The victims were together when they disappeared and there is no witnesses who could point to the last person last seen with the victims.
The remains of the victims were brought to Urdaneta City, Pangasinan on Nov. 2, with Principe immediately buried in accordance to Muslim custom while Quiros’ funeral was conducted for three days. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 20, 2024
