Tagaytay massacre suspect seen wearing Aussie victim's watch, shoes

The evidence against the suspect in the murder of an Australian citizen and two Filipinas in Tagaytay City has strengthened after CCTV footage showed that he acquired the victims' belongings, according to an exclusive report by Mariz Umali on Thursday in 24 Oras.

Acquired by GMA Integrated News, the CCTV footage showed that the 31-year-old suspect was spotted leisurely walking past 6 a.m. from the hotel where he allegedly killed the victims.

The bodies of the three victims were found inside a hotel room on July 10.

Police said the suspect was wearing a pair of rubber shoes that are identical to the ones worn by Australian victim David Fisk, based on the photo where the foreigner was taking a stroll in People’s Park before he was murdered.

“Yung rubber shoes na suot (ng suspect) ay same na rubber shoes na suot nung ating biktima na lalaki na si David Fisk na Australian national,”said Tagaytay City Police chief P/Lt Col Charles Capagcuan.

(The rubber shoes that the suspect was wearing are the same shoes that the Australian victim David Flask has.)

In another CCTV footage, the suspect was seen wearing a silver watch at his workplace, a day after the incident.

Police said it was the same watch that the Australian wore.

Authorities said they have retrieved the rubber shoes, watch and other pieces of jewelry belonging to the victims.

“Sa pamamagitan ng mga ebidensyang aming nakolekta yun na nga ay yung mga alahas na nawawala sa mga biktima kasama yung relo nung ating biktimang lalaki at ito ay nakuha mula doon sa bayaw ng ating suspek,” Capagcuan said.

(We retrieved the pieces of jewelry and the watch from the suspect’s brother-in-law. These will be used as evidence against the suspect.)

A photo also showed that the red shorts that the suspect wore during the murder incident were the same shorts he wore when he was working as a pool cleaner in the hotel.

Authorities initially looked into revenge as the motive of the suspect since he was fired by the hotel for stealing.

However, police said it is clear now that the primary motive of the crime is theft.

“Pagnanakaw na rin. Ang balita ko nalulong na rin sa online gambling kaya ano na naadik na sa pagnanakaw,” Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

(The motive of the crime is theft. I heard that the suspect was addicted to online gambling, which is why he got hooked on stealing.)

“Of course, he’s not the fall guy kasi inamin niya nung sumurrender siya,” Tolentino said.

(Of course, he’s not the fall guy because he admitted the crime when he surrendered.)

The mother of the suspect has apologized to the family of the victims.

“Masakit ho sa isang ina ang nangyaring yan. Napakasakit po ‘di ko maisip akalain na mangyari yan. Ipagdarasal ko na lang ho ang nangyari. Ipinagpapasa Diyos ko na lang ho. Humihingi ho ako ng paumanhin sa ginawa ng anak ko,” the mother of the suspect said.

(What happened is painful to a mother. It is very painful. I never expected this would happen. I will just pray and leave it to God. I am asking for forgiveness for what my son did.)—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News