CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Pursuing police operatives tracked down and arrested a 62-year-old laborer suspect in the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in the hinterland barangay of Initiao town in Misamis Oriental Wednesday afternoon.

The Agora community precinct, in a report identified the suspect as Leo Ratonil, a laborer and main suspect in the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in a swampy area in Sitio Matobato, in Barangay Lapasan this city.

Police reports said the suspect fled from his hut in Barangay Lapasan and sought refuge with his relatives in Initao town, his place of origin.

“The suspect did not resist arrest and admitted the crime,” the report said.

The suspect is now detained at the police lock-up cell pending the filing of murder and rape charges before the city prosecutor’s office.

Investigation revealed residents reported to the Agora community police precinct that the incident took place early Tuesday morning when a resident heard the victim shouting for help and later on saw the suspect dragging away the victim toward a swamp.

Responding police officers and barangay tanod recovered the victim’s body, which was submerged in the water with a deep hack wound to her neck.