Habal-habal driver linked to rape of woman left in Naga

THE body of a 22-year-old woman, believed to have been raped, was found in a grassy area in  Naga City, southern Cebu Sunday morning.

Police later arrested Eliazar Adjaman, 22, a motorcycle-for-hire driver, after witnesses pointed to him as the companion of the victim Josefine Cañabano.

PO2 Gilmer Noval, Naga city police investigator, said the driver, who was arrested past 2 p.m. yesterday, will be facing charges of rape with homicide.

Witnesses said that at around 7 p.m., they saw the two riding a motorcycle on their way to the area where the girl was found dead in sitio Naupa, barangay Lanas.

Noval said the victim, a native of Minglanilla town, was discovered by   resident Victoria Laspina, who was tending to her carabao in the area.

Laspina  first saw a lipstick and  comb in the area.

This  led to the discovery of the woman’s  body.

The police officer said  the victim  was lying face down and was half-naked.

She had  bruises on her face which could have been inflicted with a hard object.

Noval said a red handkerchief was also tied around her neck. Her blouse was raised.

An autopsy confirmed that the victim had been raped.

The  area, which is two to three meters from the national highway, is a secluded spot.

“We are still checking what she was doing with the suspect. But based on initial information, the woman may have  trusted the driver since there were witnesses who saw them together Saturday night going to the area,” said Noval.