No lead in death of woman found in Brgy Malubog

CEBU, Philippines - The death of the woman, whose body was found Friday morning at a ravine in Sitio Tops, Barangay Malubog, Cebu City, still remains a mystery.

Senior Inspector Elisandro Quijano, chief of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, said they are still investigating the death of 30-year-old Irene Flores Benitez.

"Her death is a mystery," said Quijano, who added that his men are still gathering evidence in their probe into Benitez's case.

The body of Benitez, a resident of B. Rodriquez, Barangay Sambag II, Cebu City, was found by Lolito Ote, 27, a resident of Sitio Tops, who was answering the call of nature at about 6:50 a.m. Friday when he smelled a stinky odor. He traced the source of the smell that led to the discovery of a dead woman whose face was covered with white cloth.

Benitez was later identified by her husband, Lester, through their wedding ring.

She had an injury in her head, which was believed to be hit by a hard object, based on initial findings of the autopsy.

On the other hand, the police are disregarding the possibility that the victim was raped before she was killed because there were no traces of such and her underwear was intact.

 "Our investigation is ongoing. My men were on Colon Street because prior to the incident she (Irene) was in Colon and we're hoping we can get closed-circuit television footages there if whose with her," he said.

He disclosed that the husband of the victim and her relatives have no information that could help in the investigation.

Quijano said they spoke with Lester and he was "blank." Lester was an Overseas Filipino Worker for three years and arrived in Cebu last January.

"He (Lester) was baffled why it happened," Quijano said.

The cellphone of the victim was recovered in front of Mango Square Mall Sunday evening and was turned over to the Homicide Section. Quijano said they will submit the cellphone to the Cybercrime Office of the Philippine National Police to check its contents that could possibly give them a lead.  (FREEMAN)