POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato — The lifeless body of a minor was discovered Thursday morning in a pineapple plantation in Barangay Maligo, Polomolok, two days after she went missing, authorities said.
The victim, identified only by the alias “Shaina,” was last seen Tuesday, January 13, telling relatives she was going to swim at a nearby pool. She never returned home.
A plantation worker found the body around 6 a.m. Thursday. Police reported that the victim’s lower clothing was missing, prompting investigators to consider sexual assault as a possible factor in the killing.
The child’s mother, Mary Joy Mahinay, said she was at work when her daughter left and only learned of the disappearance later. “She said she was just going to swim. That was the last time we saw her,” Mahinay said.
Police, together with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), secured the scene and conducted preliminary investigations. The body remains at the site pending further examination.
Authorities are working to identify suspects and trace the victim’s last known movements. Residents in the area are being interviewed as part of the investigation.
The family has appealed for justice. “Face what you did. Do not run. My daughter deserves justice,” Mahinay said.
Officials urged the public to come forward with any information that could help identify those responsible. The case is being treated as a heinous crime against a minor, with all angles under active investigation.