Dead woman on Roxas Boulevard puzzles Parañaque cops

Parañaque City police officials described the murder of a young woman whose burned remains were found on Roxas Boulevard Monday a "mystery" and admitted that they are facing a blank wall in their investigation.

"Not even the street beggars who normally sleep near the seawall saw anything," said case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Rodolfo Balacuay. "Talagang misteryoso."

Balacuay’s co-investigator, PO1 Anthony Alising, earlier described the woman to be 18 to 21 years old and 5’5"-5’6" tall. The lower part of the body was slightly burned, revealing fair skin.

Balacuay said the victim may have had short dyed blonde hair, strands of which were found near the body. He also said that although, burned black, the victim’s face is still recognizable. "She was pretty," Balacuay said.

He added that he ordered an autopsy to be conducted on the body after no relatives came forward to claim it as of yesterday.

Police believe that woman was raped before she was set on fire alive. Initial investigation showed that at around noon, MMDA traffic enforcer Roberto Gomito heard weak moans from the seawall of the busy Roxas Boulevard near the Airport Road in front of BM Tower that led to the discovery of the victim.

The victim was taken to the Philippine General Hospital where she died. Her remains are at the Mesina Funeral Homes in Las Piñas, where the autopsy is also being conducted.

While Alising said the woman could have been well-off as she had well-trimmed fingernails and smooth skin, Balacuay theorized that she may have been a nightclub entertainer.

Recovered at the crime scene were a black purse with P226, a slipper, and the cover of a plastic container that smelled of flammable gas.

Alising said the woman may have been burned on site, as plants surrounding the area were burned as well and her clothes melted on the ground. The area also reeked of burned flesh.

Parañaque City police chief Superintendent Ruben Catabona said that only drugs, jealousy, or insanity could drive a person to commit such a gruesome crime. – Nikko Dizon