An 18-year-old man wanted for the rape and murder of a 5-year-old girl in Cavite last year was finally apprehended by personnel of the Southern Police District (SPD) in Tondo, Manila.
The suspect Serge Mangambo Liwanag was in hiding at his parent’s residence in Barangay 116, when the arresting team armed with warrant of arrest subdued him on November 4, around 6:40 p.m.
On March 22, 2019, a 5-year-old victim was reported missing by her relatives while playing by herself outside their home in Pasinaya Homes Subdivision in Naic, Cavite, but authorities later found the child’s naked body inside a plastic bag at a vacant lot in the said subdivision.
Investigation disclosed that prior to her whereabouts, Liwanag was the last person seen with the victim according to witnesses.
Report added that during the time of the incident, Liwanag was a 17-year-old minor. He then voluntarily surrendered with her parents to the NBI following a series of manhunt operations plotted against him by the local police and was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) but later escape.
Liwanag is now under the custody of Naic Municipal Police Station pending the issuance of a commitment order and return of the warrant of arrest to the issuing court.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Maj. General Debold Sinas commended the arresting team for their successful operation against most wanted criminals in NCR.
“I commend the unwavering commitment of the operatives of Team NCRPO with Naic Municipal Police Station to arrest this accused. The long cry of the relatives of the innocent soul of the 5year old victim has now been heard and we hope that the family soon get the justice they deserve and longed for since that tragic day when they lost their little angel,” Sinas said.