Two students Were Discovered Dead Within a School in Taguig.
Two students were found dead in an office of the Signal Village National High School in Taguig City on Friday night.
The lifeless bodies of two students named Mary Nicole Picar, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student, and Irish Sheen Manalo, a 13-year-old Grade 8 student, were discovered on the third floor of the school’s Magsaysay Building after 10 p.m.
A 16-year-old student, identified as a witness, mentioned that she saw the girls for the last time at approximately 7:45 p.m. According to the Southern Police District, the girls informed the witness that they were preparing to go home.
The witness informed the police that she discovered through a Messenger group chat that the victims did not reach home. Subsequently, she actively searched for the victims and located two students lifeless bodies. The witness then reported the incident to the on-duty guards at the school.
In a Facebook post, Rhea Manalo sought assistance in uncovering the truth behind her cousin’s death. The post appealed to classmates, teachers, and friends of Irish Sheen Manalo, urging them to come forward and share any information about the incident.
Rhea asserted that the police removed the bodies without the crime scene being examined by Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) personnel. Expressing disbelief in the possibility of her cousin’s suicide, Rhea called on the city government to conduct a thorough investigation.
Rhea characterized the school as uncooperative, alleging that the school claimed none of its closed-circuit television cameras were functional. Emphasizing her cousin’s achievements as an honor student and a member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Rhea insisted that Irish would not have taken her own life. The family is awaiting autopsy results.
As of now, the police have not disclosed any information regarding the motive behind the victims’ deaths. The Department of Education (DepEd) reported that its Schools Division Office is collaborating with SOCO in the investigation. DepEd spokesman Michael Poa assured that an official report would be provided once available. Additionally, the school is working with the victims’ families to offer support.
