PHILIPPINES - On August 22, 2022, two men, 40-year-old R.R.S.A. (seated on the back right side) and 51-year-old C.A.P. (seated on the driver's side), and two women, R.M. (in her 30's, with antemortem and morgue photos on photos A and D, respectively, seated on the front passenger side, from Sitio Dulong Pulo, Barangay Sineguelasan, Bacoor, Cavite) and V.A. (in her 50's, seated on the back left side, from Barangay Ibabang Dupay, Lucena City, Quezon), were found dead inside a car in Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal. Each of them sustained gunshot wounds to the head and body, and they were said to be dumped inside the car. No antemortem and close-up postmortem photos on the other three.
Translated police report on photo C4:
FOUR DEAD BODIES FOUND INSIDE THE CAR IN RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL
Camp MGen General Licerio Geronimo, Taytay, Rizal - At around 12:40 PM on August 22 this year [2022], a resident of Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal reported to police about four lifeless bodies inside an abandoned car Nissan ALMERA with the plate number NGU 1923.
Personnel from Rodriguez Municipal Police Station, along with Rizal Provincial Mobile Force Company, immediately went to the scene to verify the report that was reached in their office. When they came to the scene, they saw a metallic gray car with two women and two men inside who are all lifeless.
According to police investigation, at around 5:00 AM when a concerned citizen discovered four dead bodies inside a car at Sitio Licao-Licao, Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal. PCOL DOMINIC LABBAO BACCAY, Provincial Director of Rizal PPO, reported to PBGEN JOSE MELENCIO CORPUZ NARTATEZ JR, Regional Director, PRO CALABARZON, regarding the incident. Relatives positively identified two male victims as follows:
1. R.R.S.A., 40 years old, married, born on April 1, 1982 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, and resident of No. 164 E. Granja Street, Barangay Otso, Lucena City, Quezon Province.
2. C.A.P. @ N., 51 years old, widowed, born on August 17, 1971 in N. Occidental, and resident of Block 50 Lot 16 Humina Homes, Barangay Isabang, Tayabas City, Quezon.
3. Meanwhile, a female victim is only known as R., who was wearing black [upper] clothing, black short, has tattoo with two black solid stripes on her left arm, pink tattoo on her right foot, sun tattoo on her right hand with the inscription "And beyond", medium-bodied, long-haired, pale and is 5'2" tall.
4. Meanwhile, a female victim is unidentified, with pale skin, at around 50 years old, 5'2" tall, wearing blouse with sleeveless polka dots, blue cycling shorts, has butterfly tattoo on her right foot, small-bodied, and brown-haired.
The motive for the crime and suspect are being investigated by police. The Rizal PNP is forming a Special Investigation Task Group called "SITG MACABUD" headed by PCOL BACCAY as SITG Commander for a swift investigation for an immediate resolution of the case.
"We will continue to give an update regarding this case as soon as there is a development", PCOL DOMINIC BACCAY said when he personally went to the scene where the victims were found. "We will not stop the thorough investigation by Rizal police to punish the culprits and give victims justice. We have identified two victims because of our police's swift actions, and with continuing cooperation with our citizens, I'm very positive that we will solve this as soon as possible."
Transcript of video 1 (News5, August 23, 2022):
Gretchen Ho (anchor): Four dead bodies were found inside an abandoned car in remote part of Montalban [Rodriguez], Rizal. The authorities are identifying the victims. The Frontline of this news by Gary de Leon.
Gary de Leon (reporter): At a remote part of this road in Montalban [Rodriguez], Rizal, an abandoned car, which was thought to be broken, there is a dark secret. When several residents looked closely the car interior, they found four dead human bodies.
P/Lt. Col. Marcelino Pipo (Chief, Montalban Police): Based on witnesses in that place, at around 5:00 AM last morning, they noticed that there was a car, and they did not know that car. So, they had a doubt.
Gary de Leon (reporter): The car was immediately reported to police. But, it took 12 hours for police to respond in the midst of an inclement weather. Later that night, the dead bodies were recovered. The victims sustained gunshot wounds to the head and body. But according to police, the dead bodies were possibly dumped.
P/Lt. Col. Marcelino Pipo (Chief, Montalban Police): There are no traces of blood inside the car. So, they likely killed elsewhere.
Gary de Leon (reporter): Police are identifying the victims. No IDs or documents establishing their identifies were found. Montalban police are continuing their investigation regarding the crime. Gary de Leon, reporting for Frontline, News5.
Transcript of video 2 (GMA News, August 23, 2022):
Connie Sison (anchor): Police are identifying the abandoned car in Rodriguez, Rizal, where four dead bodies were found. A son of one of the victims [C.A.P.], who identified themselves, came last early morning. And for an update, Nico Waje for First News. Nico.
Nico Waje (reporter): Connie, good morning. Police are continuing their investigation regarding the deaths of four people who were found inside an abandoned car here in Rodriguez, Rizal. In this remote part of Rodriguez, Rizal, several residents found this car. Inside, there are four bodies: two women and two men. All of them, dead. According to Rodriguez, Rizal police, a resident called them to report an abandoned car.
PLTCOL Marcelino Pipo Jr. (Chief of Police, Rodriguez, Rizal): According to our witness, they noticed a car around 5:00 AM last morning. They did not know the car and it is not theirs. After several hours, they notice that the car was still there. They looked closely, which found four bodies who are not moving, and they reported to us.
Nico Waje (reporter): According to police, one of the victims was [about] 60 years old, meanwhile two of the victims were [about] 30 years old, and another one was [about] 50 years old. According to Lt. Col. Pipo, there are no traces of blood inside the vehicle, and what they only found beside their dead bodies are four sachets of suspected shabu [methamphetamine].
PLTCOL Marcelino Pipo Jr. (Chief of Police, Rodriguez, Rizal): The dead bodies were placed inside the car.
Nico Waje (reporter): According to a son of one of the victims, their father [C.A.P.] is one of the deceased. And the car that was found was his last car he had driven by their father when they last met on August 17 in Quezon [province, not city]. He also paid the car.
Victim [C.A.P.]'s son: That last time I met him was his birthday on August 17. And then, he left Quezon [province] on August 19.
Nico Waje (reporter): How did you confirm that it was your father?
Victim [C.A.P.]'s son: It was my father in just one look, it was definitely him.
Nico Waje (reporter): He did not know how did his father go to Rizal.
Victim [C.A.P.]'s son: I hope you have conscience. I also hope justice will be given for the death of my father.
Nico Waje (reporter): At around 2:00 AM, a son of one of the victims we talked arrived at Rodriguez, Rizal police station. He travelled from Catanauan, Quezon in six hours. Connie, at around 5:00 AM, a son of one of the victims left the police station. And he said, he confirmed that his father was one of inside the car. And, he will go to a funeral home where the dead body was brought there, and he will try to return him back home to Quezon [province]. And according to police, the victims received gunshot wounds to the head and body that resulted in their deaths. Live from Rodriguez, Rizal, I'm Nico Waje, whole-hearted for the Filipinos.
Transcript of video 3 (One PH, August 24, 2022):
Diego Castro (anchor): The authorities are still identifying four dead bodies that were found inside a car in Montalban, Rizal. The victims were riddled with bullets, that were deliberately dumped on the roadside. Gary de Leon, reporting.
Gary de Leon (reporter): Residents are noticing this car with flat tire, when it was deliberately abandoned on the dirt roaside in Barangay San Isidro, Montalban, Rizal. When they looked closely, they found four dead bodies. But due to remoteness and strong rain, it took the whole daylight before the dead bodies were recovered. On the driver's seat, a man who was [about] 60 years old was recovered. Beside him is a woman who was [about] 30 years old. On the back seat, a woman who was [about] 50 years old and a man who was [about] 30 years old were found.
P/Lt. Col. Marcelino Pipo (Chief, Montalban Police): These victims had no items nor IDs. And then, they had tattoos. And then, four pieces of shabu [methamphetamine] were found inside the car.
Gary de Leon (reporter): The victims have gunshot wounds to their body, but no blood was found, as well as bullet entry and exit trajectories on the car.
P/Lt. Col. Marcelino Pipo (Chief, Montalban Police): The victims have gunshot wounds to their body and head. There are no traces of blood inside the car. So, they likely killed elsewhere.
Gary de Leon (reporter): Police are continuing their investigation regarding the incident. For those who have knowledge about the victims, report to the nearest police station. For One PH, Gary de Leon, News5.
Transcript of video 4 (ABS-CBN News, August 23, 2022):
Johnson Manabat (anchor): Rizal Police Provincial Office identified two of the dead bodies that were found inside an abandoned car in Rodriguez, Rizal yesterday [August 22, 2022]. According to Rizal PPO Public Information Officer Lt. Marisol Tactaquin, two of the deceased were identified as 40-year-old R.R.A. and 51-year-old C.P., who were both from Quezon [province]. Their two female companions are still unidentified. The possible motive for the crime, as well as suspects, are still being investigation. A special investigation task group was formed that will focus on the case. Police declined to give additional information, while there is an ongoing investigation.
