A suspect in the killing of his 18-year-old niece surrendered to authorities in Panglao, Bohol, after being overcome with guilt. The suspect was handed over by his relatives to the Panglao Municipal Police Station.
Missing Person Found Dead
According to Police Major Sherwin Destora, chief of the Panglao Municipal Police Station, the victim, Jerose Lood, a resident of Sitio Talisay, Barangay Doljo, Panglao, was reported missing on May 6, 2026. On May 8, 2026, her decomposing body was discovered in a grassy area in Barangay Doljo.
Investigation and CCTV Evidence
Police immediately launched an investigation and reviewed CCTV footage, which revealed that the suspect and the victim were together drinking on the evening of Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The footage showed the victim walking towards the sea around 3:30 AM on May 6, where she met the suspect. By 4:00 AM, the suspect was seen returning alone from the shoreline.
Surrender and Confession
On May 9, the suspect, accompanied by his relatives, surrendered at the Panglao Municipal Police Station. He confessed to the crime, claiming that after a quarrel, he lost his temper, grabbed a knife, and stabbed the victim in the chest and other parts of the body. Destora quoted the suspect as saying, "There was a small argument near the sea, and then he blacked out. When he came to, he realized he had killed his niece."
Rape Investigation
Upon discovery of the body, Destora noted that the victim was not wearing underwear, raising strong suspicions that she was raped before being killed. Crime scene operatives recovered the victim's underwear several meters from the body, which will be subjected to forensic analysis. Destora believes the suspect may have planned to rape the victim, as he led her to the sea. The Panglao Municipal Police Station has requested the PNP Forensic Unit 7 to conduct an autopsy to determine the number of stab wounds and confirm whether rape occurred.
