TAGAYTAY, Philippines – Tragedy struck a hotel in the resort city of Tagaytay, south of the Philippine capital, as two Australian nationals and their Filipina companion were found dead with their hands and feet tied. The victims were discovered in a room at the Lake Hotel by a worker, prompting a police investigation to identify and locate the suspects responsible for this heinous act.
The motive behind the killings remains unclear, as some of the victims’ valuables, including their cellphones, were left behind by the perpetrator. Tagaytay police chief Charles Daven Capagcuan expressed shock over the incident, while Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino extended his apologies to the families of the victims and assured that efforts are being made to resolve the case promptly.
The victims were believed to be an Australian man in his 50s, his Philippine-born partner who had Australian citizenship, and a Filipina relative. Authorities are interviewing witnesses and reviewing security camera footage from the hotel, which captured a masked individual wearing a hoodie and carrying a sling bag leaving the victims’ room hours before the bodies were discovered.
According to a Filipino relative of the Australian woman, the couple had traveled from Sydney to Bali for a vacation before visiting the Philippines to see her two children from a previous marriage. The pair was scheduled to return to Australia on the day of their tragic demise but decided to enjoy a brief getaway in Tagaytay.
Tagaytay, known for its cool weather and the picturesque Taal Volcano, attracts both local and foreign tourists. Mayor Tolentino mentioned that arrangements are being made to repatriate the Australian man’s remains to Sydney, while the two women will be laid to rest in the Philippines as requested by their families. The government has offered to cover the women’s funeral expenses.
In Australia, authorities have been providing consular assistance to the families of the deceased Australians while expressing their condolences. With the suspect still at large, the investigation into this unsettling crime continues, leaving many in both countries in mourning and seeking answers.