Philippines in Shock After 19-Year-Old University Student Brutally Murdered in Home Robbery Involving Minors
The brutal murder of a 19-year-old student in the Philippines has stirred nationwide grief and fury, after it emerged she was stabbed 38 times during a home robbery allegedly carried out by a group of youths, including three minors.
According to local reports, Sophia Marie Coquilla, a first-year university student and aspiring journalist, was found dead on 9 July 2025 in her family home in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. She had recently started her studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman, one of the country’s most prestigious institutions.
The case has ignited widespread anger online and renewed intense public debate about juvenile justice laws in the Philippines, with many demanding stricter punishment regardless of age.
CCTV Leads Police to Killers
Investigations began after family members discovered Sophia’s body lying in a pool of blood in her bedroom. Authorities reviewed CCTV footage that had captured several teenagers loitering near the house days before the murder.
A joint manhunt was launched, and within days, all four suspects were arrested — two of them in Tagum, and the remaining two, including the suspected ringleader, in Davao City. One of the older suspects was reportedly caught carrying an unlicensed firearm.
Recovered from the suspects were Sophia’s laptop, phone, tablet, and several personal items.
“They Took Turns Stabbing Her”
In a shocking confession, one of the arrested 17-year-old suspects allegedly admitted to police that they had been drinking before the robbery and decided to break into the house. When Sophia woke up and saw their faces, he claimed that he and the group leader “took turns stabbing her” to prevent her from identifying them.
Police confirmed the details in a statement, adding that 38 stab wounds had been found on the victim, indicating the sheer brutality of the attack.
Public Calls for Justice Amid Age Loopholes
The murder has once again highlighted the controversial Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which exempts children aged 15 and below from criminal liability, while those aged above 15 but under 18 can only be charged if they are proven to have acted with intent or “discernment”.
Calls to revisit or tighten this law have intensified following Sophia’s murder, with social media flooded by posts demanding that “no one, regardless of age, should walk free after committing such horror.”
Authorities Vow Accountability
While public emotions run high, police and lawmakers have assured the public that justice will be served, and that the suspects will be held accountable under the full extent of the law. Ongoing investigations are focused on establishing the exact timeline and motivations behind the crime.
Sophia’s death has not only devastated her family but also the academic and journalistic communities. She was known among peers as bright, articulate, and passionate about truth, with dreams of one day becoming an investigative journalist.
In death, her story has become a rallying cry — not just for justice, but for reform.