Woman, 2 kids found dead in abandoned car

MANILA, Philippines — A 31-year-old woman and her two children aged four and nine were found dead inside a car parked in a secluded area in San Rafael, Bulacan on Thursday afternoon.

The presence of a Toyota Avanza in a vacant lot in Barangay Talacsan at around 2 p.m. raised curiosity among residents, prompting them to notify village officials who called the police.

Responding police officers  found the bloodied bodies of the woman, identified only as Margie, and her children, Jaesen, 9, and Jaezel, 4, in the back seat of the vehicle.

Bulacan police director Jay Baybayan said initial investigation showed the fatalities were residents of Baliwag City.

Probers said the fatalities bore gunshot wounds.

A pistol was found in the vehicle along with bullet shells, although probers have yet to determine if it was the firearm used in the killing.

The woman’s husband told probers that he last saw his family at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

The victims were reportedly seen in the family-owned car, leaving Angat town with a male friend of the woman.

Probers said they are reviewing video footage of a closed-circuit television camera for possible leads on the case. — Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro