Teenage sampaguita vendor raped, killed in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines – A 14-year-old sampaguita vendor was found dead in Los Baños, Laguna on Wednesday morning.

The victim, identified as Rochel Geronda, was found dead in a banana plantation in Barangay Batong Malaki. Her jogging pants were found coiled around her neck, leading police to suspect that she was killed by strangling.

Los Baños Police chief Superintendent Dante Novicio said the victim may have also been raped, since her underwear was discovered to have been pulled down.

Geronda’s body will undergo autopsy to determine the real cause of her death, and if she was raped.

The police declined to divulge other details on the case while investigation is ongoing.

Geronda’s mother said the victim, a 1st year high school student at Batong Malaki National High School, was supposed to go to the Internet shop on the day she went missing.

Geronda’s mother said the victim worked as a sampaguita vendor during her free time to support the expenses of her 7 siblings.

The victim’s family also appealed for the victim’s killer to surrender to authorities.

Last October, a rape-slay incident also occurred in Los Baños which involved UP student Given Grace Cebanico. The suspects in the rape-slay were later arrested. – with a report from Ronilo Dagos, dzMM