By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The teenage girl, who was found dead at the Panikion River in Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City last week, was confirmed to have been raped, according to police.

Lt. Gina Fernandez, public information officer of the Cadiz City Police Station, said the post-mortem examination on 16-year-old April Bacato, revealed she was sexually assaulted.

Following the results, an additional rape charge of homicide was immediately filed against the suspect, 48-year-old Allan Tinggo.

Tinggo is already facing a murder charge over Bacato’s killing.

The victim went missing last December 9, shortly after being released from school.

Her body was later recovered in the river and an initial autopsy revealed that she sustained a total of 11 stab wounds all over her body.

Tinggo was later arrested in a follow-up operation by police and he subsequently admitted to committing the crime./DGB, WDJ