TOLEDO CITY, Cebu — Authorities launched a full-scale investigation after 12-year-old Grade 6 pupil Crystal Joy Lagaras Abarquez, who was reported missing eight days ago, was found headless and tied to a tree in a remote area in Toledo City on Feb. 19, 2026. The girl’s body was found after resident Ronico Labador discovered a foul-smelling object, later identified as a human foot, that his dog had brought home. He reported the incident to Cabitoonan Barangay Captain Gerardo Lazarte, who immediately alerted police. Police officers combed the area and found the remains of the girl tied to a tree with a shoelace around her neck near the boundary of Barangay Ibo and Cabitoonan. Her head, detached from the decomposing body, was found nearby. Her mother, Christine Abarquez, identified her daughter by her jogging pants and necklace. Police, meanwhile, invited 27-year-old Rowell Lagaras Villapina Jr., Crystal’s cousin, for questioning. He was seen seen in closed-circuit television footage riding a motorcycle with Crystal as a passenger on the day she went missing. Villapina denied harming her and said he had helped search for the missing girl. Police said Villapina has a history of illegal drug use and prior incidents involving young girls. He has also been taking medication for a mental condition since age 15. Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro called the killing “deeply distressing” and ordered police to conduct a thorough investigation. She said she would coordinate closely with the Cebu Police Provincial Office to ensure accountability and expressed sympathy for the family. Baricuatro linked the crime to the province’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs and noted that the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children had convened just hours before she learned of the death. Mayor Marjorie Perales vowed that the city would pursue justice and support the family by covering funeral and burial expenses. She credited three confidential informants for helping police identify the suspect and locate the crime scene. Perales urged parents to monitor their children’s activities and said the city would strengthen police operations and peace and order measures. Toledo City has roughly 230,000 residents and about 100 assigned police officers. Authorities sent Crystal’s remains for DNA testing and autopsy to confirm her identity and determine the exact cause of death.