Dead woman found in SRP identified

The woman who was found dead in the water near the bridge which separates the cities of Cebu and Talisay along the South Road Properties (SRP) at approximately 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

Relatives identified the victim as Neca Denise Lagria, 22, of Sitio Silot, Purok Kalubihan, Barangay Yati, Liloan, Cebu. She was single and worked at a restaurant in Mandaue City.

According to Neka’s brother-in-law, Jerson Dag-uman, and her cousin, Jnypher Noval, the victim left early on Tuesday as she planned to open the restaurant where she worked.

Her father dropped her off at Yati corner, where she would take a jeepney to Mandaue City.

Later that morning, they learned from a news report about dyHP that a woman had died at SRP.

When they watched the live video of the event on Facebook, they noticed that the victim looked like Neca, but it didn’t bother her at first.

When Neca didn’t come home that evening, her parents started to worry.

When they tried to call, her cell phone was unavailable.

They also contacted her workplace, where her co-workers revealed that she had not reported for duty.

Their worries began to mount, prompting them to look through dyHP’s social media posts, where they recognized the victim as Neca due to a noticeable mole on her nose and fair complexion.

According to Noval, they were not aware of any threats to Neka’s life.

She also mentioned that Neca previously suffered from anxiety, but has now recovered from it.

One of Neka’s older siblings, who asked not to be named, demanded justice for the murder of her sister and called on the suspect to surrender.

“Sa nanghilabot sa akung manghod nga unta ma consensya lang unta ka ug magpakita ka nga imong gihilabtan ang akung manghod nga mo surrender lang gyud unta ka, para unta nie hustisya ang akung manghod kay bata pa gyud kaayo siya, tinuod badlongon kaayo do among manghod pero dili unta angayan nga ingun ana-on,” he said.

(To the person who hurt my little sister, I hope she feels remorse and turns herself in. My sister deserves justice. She was so young. She didn’t deserve it, even though she had rebellious tendencies.)

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has already identified a person of interest in the case, who is now the focus of investigators.

CCPO Chief Colonel Antonietto Cañete said they have obtained CCTV footage that corroborates the testimony of a witness, a member of Bantay Dagat, who claims to have seen an SUV stop in the area and throw something into the sea.

“I’m sorry that I can’t reveal it at this stage of the investigation, but I will reveal it before that and even press charges against them,” Cañete said.

Cañete also suggested that the crime was not committed in Cebu City but probably in Mandaue City.

Meanwhile, Mambaling Police Chief Major Efren Diaz Jr. said that based on the evidence collected so far, the investigation is 40 percent complete. (AYB)