A 19-year-old woman who had been missing for three days was found dead and already decomposing in a grassy area in Sitio Cangcaya, Barangay Poblacion, Alcoy, Cebu on Wednesday morning, May 27.
The victim was identified as Jeani Pyrll Oropesa Belardo, a resident of the town who lived with her American live-in partner.
Belardo’s live-in partner and relatives positively identified the body through her tattoo, hair color and a hair tie recovered from the crime scene.
According to investigators, the victim was carrying a cellular tablet before she disappeared.
Authorities later used Google GPS tracking to locate the device, which was traced to Barangay Balud in Dalaguete, Cebu.
Police who visited the area learned that the tablet had allegedly been sold to a certain alias “Jan,” who claimed he bought it from Anthony Antig Baldogo, also known as “Degak,” a tricycle driver.
A witness also told investigators that the victim was seen riding a tricycle allegedly driven by Baldogo at around 1 p.m. on May 23.
The information prompted authorities to conduct an operation that led to the suspect’s arrest.
During custodial investigation, Baldogo allegedly voluntarily admitted killing the victim and later pointed to the knife believed to have been used in the crime, which police recovered.
According to PMAJ Jose Nilo T. Abello, chief of the Alcoy Municipal Police Station, the suspect was allegedly known in the community for harassing women and involvement in attempted rape incidents.
Police also said the suspect allegedly used illegal drugs.
Authorities are still waiting for the autopsy result to determine whether the victim was sexually abused before being killed.
Relatives of Belardo reported her missing to the Alcoy Police Station on May 26 after she failed to return home for three days.
