BACOLOD CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Bacolod City will begin looking into the death of a high school student who was found dead inside a sugarcane field in La Carlota City on Wednesday.

Supervising agent Manuel Fayre said William de Arca, NBI executive officer, will lead the investigation.

Fayre said that the NBI will first inspect the crime scene where the remains of Pearl Joy Galve were found.

Fayre also said that no relatives went to their office to file any complaint but urged local government units to offer monetary reward to anyone who can give information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects behind the abduction and death of Galve.

Galve, a resident of Barangay Sum-ag and a Grade 10 student of Sum-ag National High School in Bacolod City, was found in an advanced state of decomposition at around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the La Carlota City police said.

The discovery was made by one of the hacienda workers inside the secluded area of the sugarcane plantation around 700 meters away from the main road.

The girl, who was wearing an all white t-shirt, shorts, socks and shoes, was positively identified by her mother Jennifer who immediately went to La Carlota City upon learning that a dead body of a female was found.

The La Carlota City Police Office is also investigating the incident but has yet to identify any suspect or determine the motive for the killing.

Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez, in a statement on Thursday, condemned the killing of Galve.

"I condemn in the strongest terms the tragic and senseless death of a 15-year old Bacolodnon, Pearl Joy Galve, a Grade 10 student from Barangay Sum-ag whose lifeless body was found in La Carlota City after being missing since July 29," Benitez said.

"The heinous act is a grave injustice. I have instructed our BCPO to thoroughly investigate this case and bring those responsible to justice, in coordination with the La Carlota City Police. We will not rest until they are held accountable," he added.

The mayor also sent his deepest sympathies to the victim's family during this difficult time.

"In light of this tragedy, I urge our young people to exercise caution when interacting with others, especially those you do not know well. Always inform your family members or any trusted adult of your whereabouts," Benitez said.

The mayor also called on the Bacolod City Police Office, led by Col. Joeresty Coronica, to intensify police presence in public areas in the city, including schools.

"The opening of classes gives an opportunity for those with evil and twisted intentions to have targets," said the mayor.

"We will not stop until the law catches you."

The mayor also said that school authorities should make it their top priority to secure their students.

"Inform us in the government if your schools need security personnel and encourage them to install CCTV as part of the security protocol to secure the students," he said.

He likewise appealed to the public to also stop spreading fake news or anything that is not true to avoid creating panic and alarm to the general public.

He emphasized that doing this "is counter-productive, and will just cause unnecessary harm to some people."