Lovers missing for days found dead in Mandaluyong

Barely 26 days after they were reported missing, an electronic communications engineer and his 24-year-old lover were found naked and dead Sunday inside a parked van in Mandaluyong City.

The bodies of Mark Anthony Macaraig, of 7 Bologna St., San Francisco Village; and Mehia Illustrisimo, of 3 Dollar St., Meralco Village, both in Taytay, Rizal, were in the late stage of decomposition when discovered at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The completely naked Macaraig was behind the wheel while Illustrisimo, who was wearing only a brassiere and maong jeans, was in the front passenger seat of a mint green Tamaraw FX (plate number UNZ490).

Macaraig’s mother, Victoria, discovered the bodies when she came to visit the family’s unoccupied house at 150 Fabella St., Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. She identified the two through jewelry they were wearing.

Superintendent Jose Gentiles, Mandaluyong City police chief, said they are still awaiting medico-legal findings on the cause of the victim’s deaths.

The garage, Gentiles said, was enclosed and there is a possibility that the victims were drunk and slept inside the car with its airconditioning and engine on. Because of poor ventilation, the exhaust fumes must have poisoned them, he said.

Police prober PO3 Nolasco Rivera said he found no signs of forcible entry inside the garage. Nolasco is presently determining whether the victims bore signs of stab or gunshot wounds.

Macaraig said her son left their house last Dec. 26 on board an FX Tamaraw to pick up Illustrisimo to hear Mass at the Antipolo City church.

When they failed to return home, Mrs. Macaraig said she reported their disappearance to the Taytay police.

The elder Macaraig checked their house, which is for rent, last Jan. 12, but left after finding it empty. Accompanied by a prospective occupant, she returned last Sunday, only to find the vehicle and her son and Illustrisimo dead.

Meanwhile, last Sunday’s fiesta celebration in Tondo turned violent when three male siblings and their companion went on a stabbing frenzy, resulting in the death of a taxi driver and the wounding of two others.

Dead on arrival at the Mary Johnston Hospital was Edilverson Sahagun, 46, of 6116 Pitong Gatang st., Tondo. He sustained multiple stab wounds in the body.

Sahagun’s brother Roberto, 31, of 11th Avenue, Caloocan City, and Crisencio Tayco, 39, also of 6116 Pitong Gatang st., Tondo are now under observation at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and the Tondo General Hospital, respectively. Both were stabbed in different parts of the body. – Non Alquitran and Nestor Etolle