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MARCH 1, 2012—Five men, aged 15 to 25 years old, have been brought to the Los Baños Municipal Police Station as alleged perpetrators in the rape and murder of Rochel Geronda. ERRATUM: The men were brought in to be questioned about the rape and murder of Rochel Geronda.
The victim, a 14 year-old student at the Los Baños Nation High School (LBNHS), was found dead near a junkyard in Demarces Subdivision on the morning of February 29.
PO2 Eduardo Cruz, presiding investigator for the case, says that the possible suspects are to undergo a buccal swabbing test. This will determine whether the semen retrieved from the victim matches that of any of the alleged criminals. ERRATUM: PO2 Cruz says that two of the men have agreed to undergo a buccal swabbing test. Saliva samples will be used as specimens for DNA matching.
These will be handed over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) on Monday for analysis.
The municipal government is offering a reward of 50,000 pesos to anyone who can provide information that can help identify suspects.
by Jozsef Maria Baes and Desmond Gregory Tribdino