Police arrested a man who allegedly raped a girl then smashed her skull with a stone in the Philippines.

The suspect, identified in reports only as 'Gerry', 21, reportedly attacked schoolgirl April Mae Nicolas, 12, while she out buying laundry detergent in Santiago town, Isabela province, on August 10 morning.

Gerry was said to have ambushed the youngster walking along a rural dirt road, then dragged her to the overgrown roadside allegedly to molest her. He reportedly killed her by bashing her head in with a large rock.

Village officer AJ Eslabra said the April's body was found by her aunt, who went searching when the third-grader failed to come home after several hours.

He said: 'The auntie found the victim's slipper on the road. She was walking around trying to find the other pair and discovered the girl's bloody corpse hidden in the tall grass. The girl had no pants or underwear.'

Police arrested Gerry at his home later in the evening, following a tipoff from locals that he had an ongoing quarrel with the victim.

Police Colonel Lucio Simangan Jr., City Director of the Santiago City Police Office (SCPO), said: 'The suspect works as a househelp. He is of age and a resident of Buenavista village. He claimed he was being bullied by the girl because of his disability.'

Gerry was detained at the Santiago City Police Station while officers were waiting for forensic results to charge him with rape with homicide.

Meanwhile, April's devastated father, Diosdado Nicolas, said: 'What happened is so painful, especially because she is my eldest daughter, and she had high hopes for the future. She was an incredibly kind, obedient, and respectful child. She wanted to be a teacher or a nurse.

'The ones who did this to her, you are all animals with no conscience. You are demons.

'To my daughter, I know that you are now at peace in heaven. I can do nothing now, because your dreams have been taken from you. I just want to tell you that I hope you are happy now with God.'