Campus journalist’s murder in Tagum sparks outrage, scrutiny of youth justice law

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The killing of 19-year-old Sophia Marie Coquilla has intensified calls to revisit the juvenile justice law, with critics questioning legal protections for minors involved in violent crimes

MANILA, Philippines – She was young, brilliant, and ready to begin the next chapter of her life in the country’s premier university. Sophia Marie Coquilla, who dreamed of becoming a journalist after college, was found dead, brutally stabbed 38 times, in her home in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

The 19-year-old was a campus journalist and a freshman at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Her murder has drawn renewed public scrutiny over the country’s juvenile justice laws. 

Coquilla, a niece of a city councilor in Tagum and a recent senior high school graduate, was found on the morning of July 9, lying in a pool of blood in her bedroom at Purok 3-A, La Filipina, Tagum City, according to police reports. 

Police are investigating robbery as a possible motive, though the level of violence has led to further questions.

Her alma mater, Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School, mourned her passing. She was a member of the school’s 2024 senior high school batch.

“Sophia’s kindness, brilliance, and gentle spirit touched many. Her loss is felt across our university community,” read part of the school’s statement. “May her memory live on, and may her loved ones find comfort, strength, and peace during this difficult time.”

Since July 10, authorities have arrested four suspects, mostly minors. The most recent was apprehended in Davao City and was reportedly carrying an unlicensed firearm. They yielded some of the victim’s personal belongings.

The suspect arrested in Davao City was identified through CCTV footage that showed a group of young people frequently seen near the Coquilla residence and a day before the incident. 

Authorities said the suspect, who is from Davao Oriental, was arrested in Barangay Agdao Proper, Davao City. He is a young adult and suspected to have led the break-in at Coquilla’s home.

Tagum police chief Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Deles said one of the suspects, a 17-year-old, told investigators he and the group’s leader took turns stabbing Coquilla after she woke up and saw their faces. Deles said the suspect admitted they had one too many drinks.

Colonel Alexander Serrano Jr., Davao del Norte police director, said investigators were still working closely with forensic teams and intelligence operatives.

“We are working tirelessly along with the Scene of the Crime Operatives and intelligence personnel. All evidence has been processed and follow-up operations are underway,” Serrano said.

“Why did the victim suffer 38 stab wounds? That was too much. She could have become one of our country’s future journalists,” said Menzie Montes, a Cagayan de Oro-based radio reporter.

The case has prompted an emotional response from Coquilla’s relatives and former classmates. One relative, Chezter Coquilla, a private school teacher in Cagayan de Oro, described the victim as “full of energy and potential.”

“I am furious at the criminals. I can’t even describe how I feel,” he said.

The Special Program in Journalism of La Filipina National High School, which Coquilla attended, also released a statement mourning her death.

“Sophia Marie was a friend, a fellow campus journalist, and 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,” the statement read.

One Tagum resident expressed frustration over the legal protections afforded to minors involved in crimes.

“It’s so painful for us – how much more for the victim’s parents?” said Marites Barbaron Dayao. “How would justice be served if the suspects are minors, knowing they are exempted from imprisonment?”

Under Philippine law, children aged 15 and below are exempt from criminal liability and are placed in intervention programs. Those aged 15 to 18 may be held in youth facilities and undergo rehabilitation – they may be held accountable only if proven to have acted with discernment, based on the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

The law has drawn public scrutiny in recent years amid high-profile cases involving minors, with critics calling for a review of its provisions on criminal responsibility. – Rappler.com