College girl raped, killed in Pagadian

• Source:http://manilastandardtoday.com/news/-provinces/195300/college-girl-raped-killed-in-pagadian.html
• Friday, January 1, 2015

By A. Perez Rimando

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—A 16-year-old freshman at Saint Columban College here was raped and then choked to death late Tuesday afternoon while she was alone in their home at Barangay Banale this city, police said.

City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Michael P. Palermo identified the victim as Rechilyn P. Mallo.

Mallo’s body was found by her neighbor’s older brother at 7 a.m. the following day inside her room. Her parents had reportedly gone to attend a party in an adjacent village.

Police investigators later arrested the suspect, Olecher N. Gamal, 20, a criminology student of Yllana Bay View College and reportedly a relative of the victim. Probers later noticed Gamal with several scratch marks on his neck and arms.

Medical examination showed Mallo had been sexually abused. She also had injuries in different parts of her body.

During his interview by intelligence personnel at the city police office, Gamal, a native of Tigbao town, confessed that he had entered the room of Mallo when he was drunk then raped her, after which he choked her to death. He then escaped.

Police detained the suspect and prepared charges of rape and homicide against him.