A 19-year old UP Manila Student was robbed and killed by four individuals in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Wednesday, July 9. 

The victim, identified by police Sophia Coquilla, was reportedly on vacation when she was attacked inside her home. 

She sustained 38 stab wounds, and her remains were discovered lifeless in the bedroom, wrapped in a blanket. 

According to authorities, several of her personal belongings were taken, including a laptop, cellphone, tablet, and a wristwatch. 

Recovered from the scene were a grass cutter, bolo, dumbbell, and handkerchief believed to have been used in the crime.

Two minors, aged 17 and 14, were arrested on the same day during a hot pursuit operation, with the help of witnesses and CCTV footage from a neighbor. 

The video showed the suspects repeatedly passing by the victim’s home a day before the killing. The two were found hiding in a rented boarding house in Tagum City.

Police said both suspects are residents of Davao de Oro, and one of them has a previous record for theft.

Initial investigations suggest the suspects may have entered the house by forcing open a sliding glass window at the back. Coquilla’s parents, who were in the adjacent room, reportedly did not notice any commotion during the attack.

Based on the suspects’ statements, the victim may have been taken by surprise and unable to resist. Fearing they had been recognized, the attackers allegedly stabbed her multiple times to avoid being identified.

Two other suspects remain at large. The arrested minors are now facing charges of robbery with homicide.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the UP School of Economics Student Council (SESC) condemned the brutal killing and called for accountability, describing the crime as “reprehensible.”

“We urgently call for the delivery of justice. We call for a proper investigation and for those responsible for this crime to be immediately held accountable,” the statement read.