VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon – A horrific crime has shaken the community of Dagat Kidavao after the beheaded body of a 15-year-old girl was discovered floating in a lake in Purok 1, Sitio Sinait, shortly before noon on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Residents were left in shock and disbelief when authorities confirmed that the victim’s head had been severed from her body, an indication of extreme violence and brutality. The discovery was made at around 11:50 a.m. by a local resident, identified only as Lorenzo, 21, who immediately alerted barangay officials.
The victim, whose name is being withheld due to her minor status, was a Grade school student and resident of Purok 3, Sitio Sinait in the same barangay. Police records show that she was reported missing last January 6, 2026, at around 4:00 p.m., raising fears that she may have been abducted and later killed.
At around 1:00 p.m., the Valencia City Police Station received the official report from the Barangay Captain of Dagat Kidavao, prompting a swift response from law enforcement units. Upon arrival, police confirmed the grim sight: a lifeless body already bloated in the water, with the head completely detached.
“Grabe kaayo ang kahimtangan sa biktima. Klaro nga dili ni ordinaryong krimen,” said one police officer at the scene, describing the killing as exceptionally savage.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team has been deployed to process the area, collect forensic evidence, and help establish the identity of the perpetrators. Investigators are now looking into possible motives, including abduction, sexual violence, and personal grudge, though authorities stress that all angles are still being examined.
The brutal nature of the killing has sparked outrage and fear among residents, especially parents, who are now questioning the safety of children in the area.
“Dili nami katulog ug tarong. Bata pa kaayo ang biktima. Kinsay makabuhat ani?” said a distraught resident.
Local leaders have called for heightened police visibility and a full-scale investigation, urging authorities to bring justice to the victim and her family.
The Valencia City Police appealed to the public for any information that could help identify suspects or trace the victim’s last movements before she went missing.
“We urge anyone who may have seen the victim or noticed suspicious activity in the area from January 6 onwards to come forward. Even small details can be crucial,” police said.
As the investigation continues, the community of Dagat Kidavao mourns the loss of a young life taken in the most brutal manner—another grim reminder of the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable and to hold criminals fully accountable.