The Philippines is renowned for its hospitality and natural beauty, yet beneath the surface, vulnerable citizens, particularly women, face the constant threat of violence.

The tragic passing of Hazel Joy Estrella Dayday, an 18-year-old student at Palawan State University (PSU), is a devastating reminder of this reality.

On the morning of Tuesday, August 22, 2017, police received a call regarding a lifeless body discovered in a vacant lot in Barangay Santa Monica, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Responding officers found the young woman’s body with a rope tied around her neck, indicating a brutal confrontation.

The victim was quickly identified as Hazel Joy Dayday, born in 1999. She was the youngest of five siblings, known to be a kind, bright, and hardworking student whose dream was to graduate and support her family.

Her routine involved taking multicabs to and from PSU, often returning home late after evening classes.

Her mother reported Hazel missing after failing to hear from her following a late-night text that she was on her way home.

The police investigation began immediately, focusing on the last place she was seen: Rizal Avenue, where she usually boarded a multicab bound for Alta Homes.

Investigators successfully obtained CCTV footage from nearby establishments. The footage confirmed that shortly after 10:00 p.m., Hazel Joy boarded a multicab alone.

She initially sat in the back but moved to the front seat after the multicab stopped along the National Highway, as she was the sole remaining passenger. The vehicle was last seen turning onto a dark road leading toward Santa Monica.

Using the vehicle’s registration, police identified the driver as Raul Busa, a 38-year-old pedicab driver from Barangay San Jose, who was married.

Police located and arrested Busa, who initially denied any involvement, claiming he had dropped Hazel Joy off near a church before 11:00 p.m.

However, Busa’s story quickly crumbled under questioning. He eventually confessed to the crime, detailing a planned assault.

He admitted to using a pair of scissors (which he referred to as a “gunting,” or shears) to threaten the victim and forcing her out of the vehicle and into a grassy area.

Busa confessed to strangling Hazel Joy with a rope until she was lifeless. But forensic evidence complicated his account: the autopsy revealed that the victim did not pass away from strangulation but from severe internal hemorrhage, the result of excessive blunt force sustained during the assault.

Busa was subjected to a drug test, which came back positive for illegal substances.

Investigators theorized that Busa was under the influence of drugs and may have “hallucinated” his success in strangling and assaulting the victim, given the inconsistency with the forensic findings.

Further evidence recovered from the multicab included a rope matching the one found at the scene, five menthol cigarette butts, and strands of female hair on the dashboard, all linking Busa directly to the tragic incident.

The investigation concluded that Busa, driven by criminal intent and fueled by illegal substances, targeted the young student.

He was charged with qualified assault and the ultimate loss of life. After a nearly four-year legal process, the court delivered its verdict on October 15, 2021.

Raul Busa was found guilty of all charges. The judge sentenced him to reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment), ensuring he would pay for his crimes.

While justice was served, the tragic passing of Hazel Joy Dayday remains a painful wound for her family and a stark warning for the community.