THE body was found lifeless with a cloth stuffed in the mouth of an 18-year-old Grade 12 student inside a lodging house on September 20, in the town of Toledo, Cebu City.
The victim was identified as Mae Fatima Tagactac, a resident of Barangay Sto. Nino and a student at Buanoy National High School in Toledo City.
The police are now pursuing the suspect identified as Richard Cabugsa, last seen at Pier 1, Cebu City. According to the report from Toledo City Police, the victim’s body was discovered Friday morning inside a lodging house in Barangay Poblacion of the said city.
The victim’s mother stated that her daughter mentioned meeting up with her chatmate, but she stopped her as the suspect did not show any photos to her.
Based on the police investigation, CCTV footage showed the victim with the suspect before she went missing.
The victim’s body will undergo an autopsy to confirm if she was sexually assaulted before being killed. The police continue their manhunt operation against the suspect.
Authorities repeatedly remind the youth not to easily go on dates or trust individuals they only met on social media.
