BACOLOD CITY — A 17-year-old girl was found dead Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 22, in a grassy vacant lot at the reclamation area in Barangay 12—prompting Mayor Greg Gasataya to offer a P100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of her killer.
The victim was found around 1 p.m. by a passerby who entered the lot to relieve himself. Her hands and feet were hogtied, her lower garments pulled down, and her body bore signs of physical struggle, including scratches and bruises—suggesting she resisted her attacker.
Police have identified the woman but are withholding her name pending notification of her family. She was last seen alive on Tuesday, October 21, after reporting for training at a local construction firm.
Investigators are now tracing her movements and interactions after work hours, and are seeking CCTV footage to aid the probe.
Mayor Gasataya condemned the crime as “cruel and despicable,” vowing that “no one capable of such cruelty will ever find refuge in our city.”
He assured that the city government is working closely with the Bacolod City Police Office to exhaust every resource and pursue every lead.
“The city stands united—in grief, outrage, and unbreakable resolve—to protect every life and ensure that such cruelty will never go unpunished on our soil,” Gasataya said, extending condolences and support to the victim’s family.
The reward aims to intensify the pursuit of justice. Anyone with information may contact Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director. Investigation remains ongoing. (Glazyl Masculino)
