Teen held for raping, killing 5-year-old girl

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A five-year-old daughter of a Christian preacher-couple was raped and killed in Kidapawan City last Wednesday, a day before she was to be crowned third runner-up in her day care school’s Miss Valentine pageant.

Police have arrested a 15-year-old neighbor, who was subsequently turned over to local social welfare officers for being a minor. He admitted killing the girl, but denied raping her.

Villagers found the girl’s body in a grassy lot late Wednesday, her head bashed with a blunt object.