Girl, 7, found dead in Quezon cave

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A seven-year-old girl was found dead in a cave in Lucban, Quezon on Sunday.

The girl was identified by her mother, who said her daughter had been missing since Saturday, according to Maj. Marnie Abellanida, Lucban police chief.

Authorities said the girl could have been sexually molested as her underwear was missing.

A resident told police that he was searching for his nephew and niece in a forested area in Barangay Palola when he saw a man coming out of the cave with a crowbar in hand at around 10 a.m.

He said he waited for the man to leave before entering the cave, where he found the girl hogtied.

In a follow-up operation, police arrested the suspect, identified as Noel Diaz, 33.

Abellanida said they have yet to receive the result of the laboratory examination conducted on the body to determine the cause of the girl’s death.

Proper charges will be filed against the suspect, police said.