by Mary Joie C. Cruz and Gretzel H. Lantican
A 27-year old pedicab driver Henry Hipolito admitted this afternoon that he killed Marry Grace Esguerra. According to PO1 Rommel DG Montecillo, officer on case, Atty. Carlos Acain was present during the extra judicial confession of the suspect. Hipolito will be tried for murder.
Hipolito, the person who reported the body of the 11-year old girl in Villa Carangal in Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin, was also said to be one of the last persons Marry Grace was seen with the night she disappeared.
“Ang sabi ng suspect ay nagandahan daw siya kay Marry Grace pero ang tingin namin ay matagal na rin siyang minamatyagan,” said Fredalyn Esguerra, Marry Grace’s mother.
Based on the report of PO1 Montecillo, Hipolito narrated that the victim boarded his pedicab with another male passenger on March 1 at the pedicab terminal near UPLB Animal Husbandry at about 11pm. The male passenger got off the pedicab upon reaching Purok 3, leaving Marry Grace alone with Hipolito. Upon reaching the dark portion of the road near Villa Carangal, the suspect grabbed Marry Grace who resisted and shouted for help. Hipolito hit the victim on the head with a stone knocking her unconscious. The suspect then brought the unconscious Marry Grace to the dark portions of the grassy vacant lot at Villa Carangal and started to undress the victim.
The suspect denied he raped Marry Grace. Based on his narration, a tricycle passed by as he was undressing the victim forcing him to flee from the scene.
“Mabuti naman po at umamin na ang suspek sa pagpatay sa anak namin. Sa ngayon, ipinagpapasa-Diyos na lang namin ang nangyari kay Marry Grace,” said Fredalyn Esguerra.
“At least mabibigyan na natin ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ni Marry Grace,” said Chief Superintendent Conrado Masongsong of PNP LB. Police Chief Masongsong is appealing to all the parents of Los Baños to guard their little children closely and to restrict them from staying outside their homes during night time.
The police are still waiting for the results of the autopsy of the body to confirm the suspect’s statements.
Marry Grace’s remains are now in Capunitan Funeraria in Brgy. Anos.