KALIBO, Aklan – The “self-confessed” killer of a 16-year-old teenager in Barangay Agbanawan, Banga, Aklan surrendered to police authorities.
The 26-year-old resident June Rey Dela Cruz decided to turn himself to the municipal police station on Tuesday morning.
Last May 20, Jella Francisco Ricaforte was found lifeless in a secluded area of Barangay Agbanawan.
The body of Jella was already in the state of decomposition before it was discovered, police said. The “post-mortem” examination results also revealed she was sexually assaulted.
Jella left their house in the evening of May 16 for a barangay fiesta benefit dance in Agbanawan plaza.
Her friends and family began to worry when the teenage girl didn’t return home.
She was last seen in the early morning of May 17 with some friends in a neighbor’s house.
Dela Cruz allegedly strangled his cousin to death and left her lifeless body in the woods.
“Desidido akong sumuko noong Biyernes pa dapat kaso iniisip ko rin ang aking seguridad at ang pamilya ko baka balikan nila. Habang tumutulong ako sa pagluluto para sa pyesta noong Biyernes ng madaling araw, nagpasama ako kay Jella para bumili ng yelo,” the suspect said.
During the ride, he picked up a quarrel with the victim that she will tell her family about what happened to her.
“Nagdilim ang paningin ko at tinulak ko siya. At sa aktong babangon siya, sinakyan ko si Jella, sinakal hanggang mamatay.”
Dela Cruz, a construction worker in Manila and the family of Jella are neighbors in Barangay Agbanawan.
“Humingi ako ng kapatawaran sa pamilya ni Jella at sa kanya. Wala akong kasama sa krimen,” the suspect said.
The self-confessed killer was detained in the Banga municipal police station’s custodial facility, facing charges. (With a report from Akean Forum/PN)
