Quezon rape suspect found dead

CANDELARIA, Quezon, Philippines — A man who allegedly raped and killed an eight-year-old girl in Barangay Masin Sur in this town last week was found dead in his cell yesterday.

Ricardo Burce, 55, was not breathing when his fellow inmate tried to wake him up at around 6 a.m., according to Lt. Col. Jezreel Calderon, town police chief.

Burce was pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital.

The suspect has no external injuries, an indication that he could have died in his sleep, police said.

The girl, who was reported missing on Sunday, was found dead in a forested area of a subdivision on Monday last week.

Police said Burce executed an extrajudicial confession that he killed the girl before raping her.

On Monday, President Duterte ordered a manhunt for a “serial rapist” preying on children in Quezon. ”Hanapin nila yan at huwag nang buhayin,” he told police officials.