Tagaytay, Philippines – A former hotel employee has surrendered to authorities in connection with the murder of three people, including an Australian couple, at the Lake Hotel in Tagaytay last week.
The bodies of David James Fisk, 57, and his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, both Australian nationals, and Mary Jane Cortez, 30, the couple’s daughter-in-law, were discovered in a hotel room with their hands and feet bound.
Police identified the suspect through CCTV footage and traced him to his home province of Batangas, where he surrendered on Tuesday. The motive for the killings remains unclear, and some valuables, including the victims’ phones, were not taken from the room.
However, the police believe this was revenge against the management of the hotel. The suspect, a former pool cleaner at the hotel, was allegedly sacked before the killings.
The daughters of the Australian couple, Lucinda and Brittany Fisk, expressed relief and gratitude for the arrest, stating that they had been living a “nightmare” since the discovery of their parents’ bodies.
Tagaytay Police Chief, Charles Daven Capagcuan, assured the public that they are working diligently to establish a motive and bring justice to the victims’ families. The suspect is currently in police custody, and charges are expected to be filed soon.
The incident has shocked the Tagaytay community and the international community alike. Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and apologized to the Australian government and people for the tragic incident.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is providing consular assistance to the families of the deceased Australian couple. They also expressed their condolences to the families and reiterated their commitment to working with Philippine authorities to ensure justice is served.
This development marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation, bringing the grieving families hope for closure and justice.
