Love triangle eyed in brutal killing of Calamba teen

A teenager was found dead in Calamba, Laguna, in what authorities believe was a case of a love triangle gone violent, GMA News' Ivan Mayrina reported on 24 Oras on Thursday.

The body of Ronnie Molinar, 19, was found Tuesday morning with stab wounds on his head, neck and back, according to Calamba police.

"From the look of the injuries the cadaver sustained at the fingertips, mukhang na-torture pa nga siya," Police Superintendent Sacho Celedio, head of Calamba police, said.

Molinar was left with a gaping hole in the neck after being stabbed repeatedly in the area, which the police said showed a clear motive to kill.

"Initially, gawa ng nature of the injuries sustained by the victim, talagang obvious naman na galit na galit ang suspect o suspects na involved sa krimen na ito," Celedio said.

'Love triangle'

Initial investigation showed Molinar had been romantically involved with a married woman whom police refused to identify pending the results of the investigation.

"Posibleng love angle o love triangle, kung saan may matinding galit ang suspect dito sa biktima," Celedio said in a report on QRT.

The victim's sister, Charlie Mae Molinar, said they only learned that Ronnie's girlfriend was a married woman when a man arrived at their house to fetch her.

"Girlfriend po siya ng kapatid ko...Wala po kaming alam na may kinakasama pala siya," said Ronnie's sister.

The family said they last saw Molinar alive on October 30 when he told  them that he was going swimming.

"Sabi po niya sa amin, 'nay, pag may naghanap sa aking mga ka-tropa ko, huwag niyo na lang pong sabihin kung nasaan ako," Charlie Mae said.

Molinar was found dead the next morning at around 6 a.m. in Calamba.

Persons of interest

The victim's girlfriend and her partner are considered by Calamba police as persons of interest in the killing.

Since the teenager had no criminal record and was not on the drug-watch list of Calamba and his hometown Cabuyao, Molinar's family believed the suspect acted on a personal motive.

"Mabait po talaga ang kapatid ko. Wala pong nakakaaway...Hindi po siya taong barumbado," Charlie Mae said in an earlier interview on QRT

"Talagang kung makita lang po talaga, binaboy po talaga. Talagang wala po talagang balak buhayin," she added.

At the slain teenager's wake in Cabuyao, the family said they wanted justice for his death.

Celerio said authorities have gotten in touch with the persons of interest, who reportedly expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation within the coming days.

Calamba police also appealed to the public to come forward with information relevant to the killing. —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News