3 cellphone technicians killed in Cagayan
Police say robbery could be motive as victims' P1.1-M cash missing
Three cellphone technicians were found dead on a provincial road in Barangay Santa Teresa, Lal-lo, Cagayan on Thursday afternoon, March 12.
Police identified the victims as Salic, 41; Janisa, 38, and Motaleb, 40.
Investigation said the victims traveled from Tuguegarao City to Camalaniugan, Cagayan for a meeting on the sale of gold bars near a hospital in Barangay Bulala.
Two relatives of the victims said they were supposed to join the trip but were left behind because their green Toyota Vios sedan (license plates NFL-4722) could not accommodate everyone.
They identified two suspects through a police rogue gallery as individuals who had previous transactions with the victims.
Two construction workers in Barangay Santa Teresa reported seeing the car arrive near their bunkhouse. According to them, two men got out of the car and pulled three bodies from the vehicle before fleeing.
Police recovered the abandoned vehicle 15 kilometers away on a provincial road in Barangay Abagao, Camalaniugan.
Authorities found bloodstains inside the car, two fired bullets, five fired .45 caliber pistol cartridges, and personal belongings.
The victims suffered multiple bullet wounds in their bodies.
Their remains were taken to a funeral facility in Lal-lo for post-mortem examination.
Police said robbery may be the motive after ₱1.1 million in cash and a Samsung mobile phone belonging to one of the victims were reported missing.
Follow-up investigation and manhunt operation is ongoing.