THE brutal killing of a promising young journalist in Davao del Norte, a region often touted as one of the safest in the Philippines, has shocked the media community and left friends and relatives reeling.
“Gigil kaayo ko sa mga kriminal dili masabtan akong gibati. Kay full of energy and potential bata pa kaayo si Sophia,” said Chezter Coquilla, a private school teacher and relative in Cagayan de Oro, fuming.
Sophia Marie Coquilla, 19, a supposed incoming freshman at the University of the Philippines Diliman, was found dead from multiple stab wounds inside her family’s home in Tagum City on the morning of July 9.
Police investigators initially theorized robbery as the motive. However, online discussions have questioned how the victim sustained a total of 38 stab wounds.
“Perti sakita lantawon unsa pa kaha sa ginikanan? Unsaon pagkab-ot sa hustisya nga mga menor de edad paman ang nipatay nimo.Pagkalooy nga ang balaod dli man ipapreso kay kuno bata pa ang mga kriminal,” stated Marites Barbaron Dayao on social media.
Another netizen, Ace Buenaventura, stressed, “I’'s clear our first response should be sympathy for the victim. But when we discuss justice, we have to use reason, not just raw emotion. This is a complex issue, not a black-and-white one, because it involves young people.”
“Frankly, a lot of the emotional assumptions being made about this age group come from not knowing the full picture. People aren’t aware of the actual psychology of youth, the goals of rehabilitation, and most importantly, the fact that these laws are so weakly implemented here. The anger is valid, but it's often aimed at the wrong target. The real problem isn’t just the kids; it’s the broken system that fails both the victims and the youth,” Buenaventura added.
The fourth suspect, another minor, was recently arrested in Davao City, reportedly armed with an unlicensed firearm.
This suspect was identified through a neighbor’s CCTV footage showing a group of youngsters frequently near the Coquilla residence the day before the incident.
The first three suspects, also minors, had been arrested earlier.
Davao del Norte Police Provincial Director Col. Alexander R. Serrano Jr. vowed a speedy investigation.
“We are working tirelessly along with the Scene of the Crime Operatives and intelligence personnel. All evidences have been processed and follow-up operations are underway,” Serrano said.
Coquilla, known by classmates and teachers as a passionate campus writer, graduated high school as third honorable mention.
A statement shared by La Filipina NHD-Special Program in Journalism in Tagum City read: “Sophia Marie was a friend, a fellow campus journalist, and a family. She was responsible, passionate, and kind. She had dreams bigger than herself; dreams of writing stories that mattered, of being a voice for the voiceless, of creating change through words. And she was already doing that. At such a young age, she was already making a difference.”
