BY MA THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO – The suspect in the death of Miag-ao town resident Marivic Felicisimo has surfaced and denied committing the crime.
Kenneth Paguntalan has admitted to being in the company of Felicisimo but has firmly refuted accusations of assaulting her before the victim was found on the night of April 7 in a secluded grassland in Barangay Tambong.
Felicisimo’s body was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition, without undergarments, and with her upper body exposed. Articles of clothing not belonging to the victim were also found nearby.
Post-mortem examination results showed that the victim was sexually assaulted.
To address the accusation of having a hand in the crime and alleviate his conscience, Paguntalan decided to speak out.
According to Paguntalan’s version of events, he and Felicisimo were together drinking and singing karaoke in the early hours of April 6 in the neighboring Barangay Diday. However, Felicisimo allegedly insisted on being escorted home.
Paguntalan stated that he obliged out of goodwill, but upon reaching a secluded area, Felicisimo was attacked by an unknown assailant.
He further elaborated that the assailant became aggressive upon discovering them together and threatened Paguntalan not to leave.
Paguntalan maintained that he merely witnessed the assault, while Felicisimo pleaded for assistance.
Following the attack, a barking dog startled the assailant, prompting them to flee.
Feeling apprehensive about being implicated, Paguntalan opted to leave the scene and eventually relocated from his original residence in Caloocan to Taytay, Rizal.
Assisted by his family, Paguntalan surrendered himself and is currently under the custody of the Miag-ao police, facing rape with homicide charge.
To recall, Miag-ao police officer-in-charge, Captain Francis Donne Lomahan, said in a Panay News interview that surveillance camera footage in the area showed that the victim was walking behind a man later identified as Paguntalan.
“Sa copy sang aton CCTV (closed circuit television camera), may nakita kita nga isa ka persona kung sa diin gasundanay sila sang biktima,” Lomahan added.
Lomahan also noted that CCTV footage further showed that the victim had already passed by her house and that a man was guiding Felicisimo with a flashlight./PN
