DCNHS students, city officials call for “Justice for Madelaine”
AS Madelaine Faith Goyena, 13, a sophomore of the Dagupan City National High School (DCNHS), was laid to rest last Thursday, the school community and city officials called on the police to make sure that justice is served on the brutal slaying.
Wearing white T shirts printed with “Justice for Madelaine H. Goyena”, the mourners first participated in a prayer-vigil and a march called “Walk with Faith” that started at the DCNHS, leading to the Saint John Metropolitan Cathedral where a requiem mass was held with Auxiliary Archbishop Renato Mayugba as celebrator.
The march was intended to deliver a strong message to the police and other investigating agencies to leave no stone unturned until all the suspects are arrested and placed behind bars.
Goyena, an honor student and was adjudged Miss DCNHS last school year, was found dead with 16 stab wounds on her body and her face was deformed from being hit by a hard object.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez were among those who delivered eulogies, both calling on the law enforcement agencies not to stop until the gruesome murder of Madelaine on June 1 at the back of the school campus is solved.
Fernandez earlier delivered a privilege speech before the Sangguniang Panlungsod condemning murder of Madelaine and the rape of a 12-year old girl by a “hataw” operator identified only as “Gildo” in Barangay Bonuan Binloc also last June 1.
SUSPECTS
The police are now holding one suspect identified as Dennis Escaño, 18, who was arrested dawn of June 2 at his residence in Barangay Naguilayan, Binmaley.
Escaño, who admits to being Madelaine’s friend but denies involvement in the crime, was pinpointed by three boys, all student of DCNHS, as the one who Madelaine was talking with in another room before noon of June 1 and whom they saw walking from the place where the girl’s body was found.
Superintendent Romeo Caramat, chief of police of Dagupan, said Escaño had injuries on his hands when he was picked up by the police. A subsequent drug test on him, however, proved negative.
Moreover, Caramat said he had verified that Escaño borrowed money from the victim on several occasions, starting with P1,000 and the amount has reached P16,000.
A murder complaint has been filed against Escaño, but Caramat said they are continuing the investigation as the police believe the crime was perpetrated by more than one person.
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