The body of a five-year-old girl who vanished while playing outside her home has been found inside a rice sack.
Neighbour Glenn Ford Manzanero, 30, has since been arrested on suspicion of the youngster's murder after allegedly luring her into his house with ice cream.
The child - who has not been named - was reported missing by her family in Santa Cruz in the northern Philippine province of Laguna on Sunday.
Before her body was found, she was last seen playing outside her home and eyewitnesses said they saw her leave with Manzanero, according to police spokesperson Armie Agbuya.
The neighbour reportedly enticed the child into his house by promising to give her an ice cream.
According to the police, one of Manzanero's relatives found her body inside a recycled rice bag in his house.
Agbuya told local media: "The relative asked him 'what is inside the bag?' and the suspect replied 'there is a girl inside'."
He added: “The suspect lured the victim with a mais-con-yelo (a dessert). She knew him because they were neighbours."
According to reports, it is believed that the suspect killed the girl with a sharp blade and a screwdriver.
Police moved to arrest the neighbour, who has since confessed to the crime, according to reports.
The suspect allegedly claimed that he did not know what he was doing because he had taken drugs.
According to reports, Manzanero has been charged with murder but he denied sexually assaulting the girl.
The victim's body has been sent for an autopsy as the investigation continues.
