MASINLOC, Zambales – A tricycle driver raped and killed a 15-year-old Filipino-American who was reported missing Tuesday afternoon and whose body was discovered Wednesday morning at a grassy portion of a mountain sitio here.
SPO1 Arnold Sunga, Masinloc police investigator, said tricycle driver Romulo Bulatao, Jr. , 34, of Inhobol, Masinloc, admitted to raping and killing Gizelle Antiguo, 15, of Tapuac, Masinloc.
“Na-rape daw niya minsan. Hinampas daw niya ng bato at kahoy sa ulo at ginilitan ang magkabilang pulso ng bata,” the investigator said. Sunga said they conducted continuous follow-up operation and intelligence gathering until the body of victim was recovered and the suspect arrested on Wednesday.
Orlando Cunanan, 66, was in tears as he recalled Gizelle not going home from school in the afternoon of Tuesday. “Kung ano ginawa sa apo ko, dapat ganoon din ang parusa sa pumatay sa kanya,” the old man said.
“Walang suot pang-ibaba ang apo ko at may laslas sa pulso at hampas sa ulo,” he said. The victim’s body was discovered at a grassy area in Sitio Maymayan in Inhobol. Reports showed that Gizelle joined two girl-classmates and rode the suspect’s tricycle at 5 p.m. “Unang inihatid ng tricycle ang dalawang bata at dapat si Gizelle ang huling ihahatid pero sa ibang lugar pala dinala,” the grand- father said.
Cunanan said the victim’s mother is his stepdaughter who has left Gizelle to their care since birth. “Mabait siyang bata at hindi palagala,” he said. Gizelle was only daughter of Arlene Canfi eld, 38, to her first marriage to an American. She is now married to 83-year old Robert Canfi eld, a British national and live in Malate, Manila, Cunanan said.
The Canfields begged off to be interviewed, saying they were so depressed. Cunanan said Canfield was preparing adoption papers for Gizzelle. The old man said his apo during vacation from school visited the couple
in Manila while mother and stepfather once in a while also came to Masinloc.
Vincent Egalloy, 15, classmate of Gizzelle in third year, section St. Vincent de Paul in San Andres School of Masinloc, confirmed the victim was with two other girl classmates when she left school at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
“Niyaya ko siyang magsimba pero ang sabi ihahatid niya ang dalawang kaklase namin at iyon na pala huling pagkikita namin,” Egalloy who is class mayor said. “Mabait siya at pursigidong mag-aral at mahilig kumanta,” the student said. “Gizzelle, salamat at dumating ka sa buhay namin. Sana mapunta ka sa piling ni Hesus,” Egalloy said.
Police has readied a case of rape with homicide against the tricycle driver, said Senior Insp. Pancho Doble, Masinloc police chief.
