Lipa police yet to identify suspect in killing of female student
LIPA CITY, Batangas — Police in Lipa City have yet to identify a suspect in the killing of 20-year-old architecture student Jazmine Iya Martinez, a week after she was found dead in Barangay Duhatan.
Authorities are investigating three persons of interest, but police said they have not been identified as suspects in the case.
Investigators have yet to establish a motive. They are considering the possibility of a crime of passion or personal animosity, while robbery has been ruled out because none of the victim’s belongings were reported missing. Sexual assault has also been ruled out, according to the report.
Police are seeking to access Martinez’s cellphone, which they hope could provide information relevant to the investigation.
Her father, Crisanto Martinez, said investigators have been unable to unlock the device.
“Kasi yung cellphone ng anak ko hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nabubuksan, doon na lang kami umaasa na makakuha ng lead,” Crisanto said.
The victim’s family said they were unaware of anyone who might have wanted to harm her.
Crisanto described his daughter, his second child, as quiet and said she usually went between school and home.
“Dito po sa amin, wala po ako nakikitang naging kaaway niya. Hindi namin maisip kung sino ang may motibo para gawin sa anak ko yan,” he said.
Martinez sustained five stab wounds, including injuries to the neck and side of her body that caused her death.
Closed-circuit television footage showed Martinez walking home before a motorcycle rider appeared to follow her.
Lipa City police have appealed to residents and other members of the public to provide information that could help investigators establish what happened.
“Sa barangay, sa lugar mismo ng ating biktima. Kung may napansin po ang mga kapitbahay na may nakasama o by routine may sumusundo, kahit kaunting impormasyon po, description, malaking tulong na po sa amin,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Aleli Buaquen, chief of the Lipa City police station.
Crisanto said he understood that the investigation could take time and was willing to wait for authorities to resolve the case.
“Hindi po ako nagmamadali. Basta ang gusto ko lang po ay mabigyan ng katarungan ang anak ko. Handa po kaming maghintay. Basta lang po mabigyan ng katarungan,” he said.
The Student Development and Activities Office of National University-Lipa has also called for justice for Martinez, a third-year architecture student.
The Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Duhatan expressed its condolences to the family and joined calls for justice for Martinez, who had previously received a scholarship from the youth council.
Martinez is scheduled to be buried on Thursday. Her family hopes investigators will have made progress in the case by then.