Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez ordered an investigation into the murder of a five-year-old girl who was found dead in the city’s Barangay Handumanan over the weekend.

“If foul play is confirmed, we will ensure that those responsible face the full force of the law,” Benitez said in a statement yesterday.

He said the incident was “a heartbreaking and unacceptable tragedy for the community.”

Benitez added the city government will take action on the case “until they build a community where such heinous acts have no place.”

“There will be no leniency, no delays and no tolerance for those who bring harm to our children,” he added.

Benitez said that the incident is “a painful reminder that the safety and well-being of children demand constant vigilance and collective effort.”

“To every resident of Bacolod: I urge you to remain vigilant and proactive. Let us stand united in this fight to protect our children, our families, and our city,” he pointed out.

The girl was last seen alive on December 21, an initial investigation by the Bacolod City Police Office Station 10 revealed.

The victim was also last seen playing outside her house.

The girl’s decomposing body was found in a creek on Saturday, December 28.

She was positively identified by her sibling through her clothes.

City police obtained closed-circuit television camera footage to aid in their investigation.

The victim was subjected to autopsy to determine the cause of death, police said./WDJ