Two Japanese nationals who have been missing since Tuesday were allegedly murdered off Alava Island, part of the popular Palawan tourist area, in what appears to have been a possible contract killing, a Philippine Coast Guard official said.
LTJG Lonie Zamora, PCG Palawan spokesperson, said three suspects have come forward and confessed to killing Itani Masaru, 59, and Arai Yoshihiro, 24.
Zamora identified the suspects as Aladin Mohameran, Reynante Labampa, and boat owner Michael “Don-don” Suangco. Meanwhile, a Japanese national, Hiroyuki Nagaham, a businessman living in Puerto Princesa City, has been “invited” to the police station in Coron, Palawan, and stands accused of masterminding the killings.
It was not immediately clear if any attempt had been made to take Hiroyuki into custody or, in fact, if his current whereabouts are known to police.
Authorities are also looking for a certain Sonny Anicete — identified by the three suspects as their leader — and two other companions, Joebez Vizcara and an unidentified minor.
Read: 2 Japanese tourists, boatman still missing in Palawan
Last Tuesday, the victims rented Suangco’s boat to check out the surrounding islands but did not return.
The staff of GMG Hotel, where the victims were staying, reported the guests missing to police.
Quoting the Task Force North report, Zamora said the suspects divulged the location where they shot and cut the victim’s body in pieces before throwing them into the sea.
The suspects also sank the boat before leaving for Coron last Tuesday, Zamora said.
Task Force North, which consists of members of the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard, as well as local government units, was formed to handle the case of the missing Japanese tourists.
“We have yet to find the bodies of the victims to check the veracity of their confessions,” Zamora said.
The Task Force continues to scour the area to search and retrieve the bodies of the victims.
This story first appeared on ABS-CBN News and is re-published with permission.
