The mother of a 15-year-old girl found dead in Bulacan after missing for days sought the help of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in giving justice to victims of violence.
A GMA News report said “Perlita,” mother of victim Princess Marie Dumantay, in an interview thanked authorities for the arrest of the suspect behind her daughter’s slay.
“I am appealing to President Marcos, I hope he will listen to the family of those who are missing. We urge them to use an iron fist. Us, women, and our children are being victimized. What is happening? Where is our law?” she said.
She also said: “(Mr. President, I am asking because it is not only my child who was victimized. There are many others before her. What if the police will not be able to stop it? How about those who will fell victim to these? We hope this will not happen again.”
“So I am calling for our lawmakers, policemen, and those in the government to use iron-fisted measures against these demons and suspects,” she added.
Malacañang has yet to comment on the appeal of the victim’s mother.
According to the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the suspect, identified as Gaspar Maneja Jr., was arrested in Pamplona, Camarines Sur.
Maneja, who also uses the name “Jose Francisco Santos,” was nabbed based on an arrest warrant for rape and violation of Republic Act 7610 or the anti-child abuse law.
Dumantay’s body was found on a grassy roadside in Bustos, Bulacan, on August 12, days after she was reported missing.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Police Brigadier General Ronald Lee, in an earlier report, confirmed the arrest of the said suspect in Pamplona, Camarines Sur.
The victim’s body bore bruises, cigarette burns, and strangulation marks, authorities said.