The Philippine National Police in nearby Siquijor province is awaiting the results of the drug test conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory in Dumaguete City on a suspected drug personality accused of killing two women in that island-province recently.
Siquijor PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Erson Digal disclosed Friday that the suspect, Michael Manayon, 34, married of Lapu-lapu City in Cebu province, was charged with double murder before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and is now behind bars at the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology facility in that island-province.
He was also charged with violation of Sec. 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act as amended for illegal possession of marijuana.
Manayon, a participant in an international longboarding competition held April 1 and 2 in Lazi, Siquijor, was allegedly high on drugs when he went on a killing rampage, and stabbed to death Nikki Piñero, 21, of Dumaguete City, and Lorraine Ramirez, 17, of Makati City, also a longboarder.
The stabbing incident took place in the evening of April 2 in San Juan, another town in Siquijor province, where the girls and their companions were staying.
Manayon was arrested later by responding police who confiscated from him six knives, believed to be the fatal weapons used in the killing spree, and suspected marijuana.
Sr. Supt. Digal said that they are also waiting for the ultrasound results of one of the victims, Nikki Piñero, who was said to be four months pregnant when she was killed.
If the ultrasound results come out positive, the police will elevate the charges against Manayon from double murder to multiple murder, Digal said.
Meanwhile, the body of Piñero lies in state at the Chapel of the Evangel of Silliman University, while the remains of Ramirez were flown to Manila on Thursday.
Ramirez’ mother is a buko (young coconut) vendor in Manila, and her deceased daughter, Lorraine, had stopped going to school due to lack of resources.
Negros Oriental 2nd district Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria and 3rd District Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr. had shouldered the expenses in the transport of Ramirez’ body to Manila.
The Silliman University community, in a statement signed by University President Dr. Ben Malayang III, and Education Sec. Leonor Briones, who hails from Negros Oriental, condemned in the strongest terms what they described as the senseless killings of the young girls and the unborn. (JFP)
