• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed rape charges before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office against the stepfather of 15-year-old Pearl Joy Galve, who was found dead on August 13, inside a sugarcane plantation Hacienda San Roque, Barangay Cubay, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
William De Arca, executive officer of the NBI-Bacolod, yesterday said that Jennifer Galve, the mother of Pearl Joy, served as the complainant.
The respondent of the complaint is Rene John Nasis, live-in partner of Jennifer.
Quoting testimonies of Galve, De Arca disclosed that Pearl Joy, was sexually abused by Nasis several times.
Pearl Joy, a Grade 10 student of Sum-ag National High School in Bacolod City, was reported missing on July 29. Her cadaver was found after more than two weeks in La Carlota.
Both the NBI and the police have yet to establish a breakthrough in their investigations with regard to the suspects behind her death.
As requested by the mother of the victim, De Arca said that NBI is now the lead agency in the investigation into the death of Pearl Joy, in close coordination with the La Carlota City Police Station and Bacolod City Police Office.
Last month, Nasis surfaced to strongly deny allegations that he was involved in the death of his stepdaughter.
De Arca said they are still gathering enough evidence to file charges against whoever the suspects are, as they have information that two to four persons were involved in the murder of Pearl Joy.*