By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The suspects in last week’s death of a 10-year-old girl in Talisay City, Negros Occidental were formally charged yesterday morning.

In a radio report, charges of rape with homicide were filed against the suspects, identified as Almer John Duron and a 17-year-old minor who was arrested during a follow-up operation into the death of Marchela Sayo, a resident of Barangay 14B in the said city.

The minor was earlier believed to have been cleared following Duron’s admission on Sunday but prosecutors reportedly decided to proceed with charges against the teen.

Rape charges were raised after Sayo’s autopsy revealed lacerations to her genitalia, which is indicative of a rape.

After failing to return home last Friday night, her remains were later discovered hogtied, with a plastic bag placed on head, at the house owned by her uncle./DGB, WDJ