Man in CCTV a person of interest in deaths of Australian couple, kin in Tagaytay

A man caught coming in and out from the hotel room in Tagaytay where three people, including an Australian couple, were found dead is now a person of interest.

In Jun Veneracion’s report in Saksi on Friday, authorities are curious why there is no footage available of the suspect’s first entry to the crime scene.

At 12:51 a.m. on July 10, CCTV footage first caught a man wearing what appeared to be a jacket with the hood up and a pair of shorts coming out of Room 103 of the hotel where the victims were billeted. After a few seconds he re-entered the room. 

The last CCTV footage caught the man emerging from the victims’ room at 5:46 a.m. The incident was reported by the hotel staff at 1:35 p.m. on the same day.

“Sa window, most likely ang entrance niya,” speculated Tagaytay City Police chief P/Lieutenant Colonel Charles Capagcuan.

(He likely entered through the window.)

“Maari kasi na during nighttime, habang sleeping period nila, nagbukas sila ng bintana,” he added.

(It’s possible that during nighttime, while the victims were asleep, the windows were open.)

According to the report, CCTV footage first caught a man dressed in a jacket with the hood up and a pair of shorts coming out of Room 103 of the hotel where the victims were billeted at 12:51 a.m. on July 10. After a few seconds he re-entered the room.

The victims were found with their hands and feet tied with electrical cord and shoelaces. Their mouths were also covered with tape. 

Capagcuan said that the autopsy report showed the Australian man sustained a neck wound made by a bloodied broken glass found inside the room. His Filipino-Australian wife and daughter-in-law died of asphyxia.

However, authorities are puzzled as to how one person managed to commit all these crimes against three individuals. 

“Siguro si medico legal ang makakasagot niyan kung may ginamit na pampatulog,” said Capagcuan. 

(I think it’s the medico legal that can answer if a sedative was used on the victims.) 

Although no jewelry, cash and mobile phones were reportedly stolen from the two Filipino victims, the Australian man had no wallet and no credit cards. Police  said they are not disregarding robbery as the possible motive behind the grisly killings. 

Meanwhile, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino called on all tourism establishments in the city to impose stricter security measures for the safety of their guests. —Vince Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News