Two Australian nationals and their Filipina companion were found dead in a hotel room in the picturesque resort city of Tagaytay, south of Manila. The local police are now racing against time to identify and apprehend the culprits behind this tragic incident.
The grim discovery was made by a hotel employee at the Lake Hotel around 1:35 PM on Wednesday. The victims were found with their hands and feet bound, a detail that added to the brutality of the crime. The male Australian victim had his throat slit, a fatal wound inflicted with a sharp object. At the same time, the two women appeared to have been suffocated with pillows, according to Tagaytay police chief Charles Daven Capagcuan. Ongoing autopsies are expected to confirm these preliminary findings.
Fatalities of tragic incident
The victims were identified as David, 57, and Lucita, 55, both Australians and Mary, a 30-year-old Filipina. Despite the violent nature of the crime, some of the victims’ valuables, including their mobile phones, were left behind, leaving investigators puzzled about the motive.
“We were shocked by this incident,” stated Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino, apologizing to the victims’ families. “We’re very sorry to our Australian friends. We will resolve this as soon as possible.”
Authorities are diligently working to piece together the events leading up to the crime. Witnesses are being interviewed, and security camera footage from the hotel is under scrutiny. Notably, one video shows a masked man wearing a hoodie and carrying a sling bag leaving the victims’ room just hours before the bodies were discovered.
A relative of Lucita shared that the Australian couple had traveled from Sydney to Bali before arriving in the Philippines on Monday to visit Lucita’s children from a previous marriage. The couple planned to return to Australia on the day they were found dead but decided to enjoy a brief vacation in Tagaytay.
Murder in paradise?
Tagaytay, renowned for its cool climate and scenic views of the Taal Volcano, is a favorite destination for local and international tourists. The city, located about 60 kilometers south of Manila, is now reeling from the aftermath of this violent incident.
In a bid to offer some solace, Mayor Tolentino assured that the Australian man’s remains would be flown back to Sydney, while the two women would be buried in the Philippines, as per their families’ wishes. The Philippine government will cover the funeral and burial costs for the women.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade expressed condolences and confirmed that consular assistance is being provided to the families of the deceased Australians.
As the investigation continues, the people of Tagaytay and the international community await answers and hope for swift justice for the victims of this tragic event.
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