Victim thrown into septic tank: Girl, 14, ‘killed’ by school guard

CEBU, Philippines — Nearly a month after the brutal killing of 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City, another minor was killed in Cebu, this time, in the northern city of Danao.

At past 11 a.m. yesterday, authorities recovered the body of 14-year-old Thesa Marie Ygay from a septic tank at Cogon Cruz Elementary School.

Ygay was a resident of Barangay Taboc in Danao.

In a press release, the Danao Police identified the suspect as Jessie Montes Mediquillo, 34, a security guard at the school, and a resident of Barangay Tuburan Sur, also in Danao.

He was missing as of yesterday.

The police said Mediquillo’s neighbors “observed that the two were close to each other” and that the two were “perceived to be having a relationship.”

Danao Police chief Maribelle Getigan said it was last Saturday, April 6, when the suspect’s fellow security guard asked the girl’s family if the girl had gone home. He reportedly became suspicious when he saw blood at the guard house and when Mediquillo told him he had been reassigned and would no longer report for work at school the next day. Since then, Mediquillo could no longer be reached on his mobile phone and had gone missing.

That day, Ygay’s siblings reported her missing to the police.

"Dihang mipuli na tong usa ka gwardya, nagpasumbingay na kuno ni nga dili na mobalik sa skwelahan kay gi-assign na daw siya sa laing lugar, sukad ato kay wala gyud ni makit-i nga nangita sad sa bata (When the other guard took over the shift, the suspect told him that he had been reassigned. Since then, he could no longer be found and was also not seen looking for the child)," Getigan said.

Yesterday, the janitor at the elementary school reported an extraordinarily foul odor emanating from the school’s septic tank.

When the police pried the tank open, they found Ygay’s lifeless body floating face down. She was found wearing a t-shirt and tattered pants, and without footwear.

The girl’s family identified Ygay positively.

The septic tank is estimated to be about 100 meters away from the guard house. It appeared to have been sealed fresh with cement but the police did not see any trace of blood there.

Danao Police spokesperson Hazel Gonzales said initial investigation showed that Ygay was stabbed on the left side of her body.

Mediquillo reportedly was the one who sent Ygay to school starting when she was nine years old.

On March 25, Mediquillo reportedly cut Ygay’s hair short after learning that she loitered around with friends without his knowledge.

Investigation is ongoing to determine the motive in the killing and to arrest the suspect. (FREEMAN)