The Bacolod police yesterday said they are now banking on credible witnesses to back their evidence against the suspect in the killing of 3-year-old Jasmine Lampinid after the autopsy on her body confirmed that she had been raped.

Police Station 7 commander, Senior Inspector Danilo Francisco, told the DAILY STAR that this was shown in the findings of Negros Occidental Provincial Police medico legal officer Noel Martinez.

Martinez examined Lampinid's remains Friday shortly before she was buried at the public cemetery in Brgy. Handumanan, in Bacolod .

With this evidence, Francisco said they are now focusing on finding credible witnesses to back allegations that a man was last seen by several of people near Lampinid's house in Brgy. Aljis before she went missing on February 11.

The minor was found by scavengers inside a sack in a marshy area in Brgy. Singcang-Airport on February 13.

Francisco said they want to get substantial testimonies from people in the Lampinid family's neighborhood to support the scientific facts in their case in court against the suspect.

Although the girl's family had pinpointed the suspect, he has not yet been identified and Francisco said they cannot file charges against him yet because the lack of witnesses will likely put their efforts to waste.

Lampinid's parents have appealed for the public to give any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Francisco, meanwhile, said the autopsy report showed that decomposition had caused the child's head and feet to separate from the rest of her body.

Western Visayas Philippine National Police regional director, Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas said in a radio interview that he has ordered the Bacolod police to prioritize the solving of child-killing cases in the city including that of Lampinid and nine-year-old Roselyn Elumba who was killed in November last year.*PP

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