TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte — A five-year-old girl was raped and killed in Leyte town on Christmas Day and a man who was recently released from jail on probation and also the drinking partner of the child’s father, was arrested for the crime. 

The suspect, Fernando Regoño, was arrested hours after the discovery of the child’s body, Insp. Miguelito Bocade, chief of police of MacArthur town, said on Monday. 

Bocade said the child’s body was found in a grassy portion in Barangay Danao, the village where both the victim and the suspect resided. 

The suspect was released on probation last Nov. 26 for a homicide case. 

“At first the suspect denied that he was responsible for this shocking crime. But after our intense questioning, he caved in and admitted that he was the one who raped and killed the child,” Bocade said. 

Bloodstain was also seen on the suspect’s underwear. Regoño was arrested by the town policemen in neighboring Barangay San Pedro in a beach house on Dec. 26 at around 1 a.m. 

Bocade said investigation showed that the rape and killing took place at around 8 p.m. on Dec. 25 at a grassy area only about 50 meters away from the house of the victim. 

The child was on her way home after watching television at a neighbor’s house when she met the suspect. Regoño had just finished having a drinking session with the father of the victim.

Bocade said investigation showed that Regoño smashed the girl’s head using a hollow block after molesting her.

Bocade said a case of rape with homicide would be filed against Regoño at the provincial prosecutor’s office in Tacloban. /INQUIRER