MANILA, Philippines – A graduating honor pupil in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro was raped and then killed a day before her graduation.

Victim Anna Jamina Cabatac, 12, was found dumped in a canal in Barangay Tayamaan at around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Initial police investigation said Cabatac, who was supposed to graduate today (Thursday), was raped before being choked to death.

Cabatac, a graduating honor pupil at Mamburao Central Elementary School, was last seen boarding the tricycle of suspect Edmar Bitangcor with 5 others at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The victim was about to go home from her graduation practice at the municipal gym. Her grandmother reported her missing at around 8 p.m. that day.

Bitangcor, 22, was immediately arrested. He denied raping and killing the victim, but a witness testified that he saw Bitangcor and Cabatac inside the tricycle.

Cabatac’s parents, meanwhile, have yet to arrive from Saudi Arabia where they both work. – report from Dennis Datu, dzMM