3 bodies found in garbage heap

The bodies of three men, suspected to be victims of summary execution, were found dumped on a garbage heap in Tondo, Manila early morning yesterday.

The still-unidentified victims were individually placed inside nylon sacks, according to case investigator Police Officer 3 Rommel del Rosario.

The victims’ bodies had packaging tape wrapped around their mid-sections. The victims had welt marks on their necks and their faces were swollen. “The victims could had been strangulated and tortured,” Del Rosario told The STAR, adding they could have been dead for at least three hours when they were discovered.

Two of the victims were estimated to be between 40 and 45 years old, while the third one was in his late 20s. The younger victim was of medium build, with short hair and at least 5’4” tall. He was wearing a white polo shirt that bore the words “Rotary Club, Bagumbayan-Ermita, Manila,” corduroy pants, yellow and violet socks and brown safety shoes.

The second victim had close-cropped hair, was at least 5’5” tall, and wore a white polo shirt that bore the words “Liga ng mga Barangay” and “kagawad,” and cargo pants. A ring with the initials “Rolly G” was found on his right finger.

The third victim had short hair, was at least 5’4” tall, and was wearing only black pants.

Del Rosario said a scavenger discovered a body in one of the sacks at a dump along Road 10 and Lakandula street. He immediately informed personnel of the garbage hauling firm Leonel, who scoured the area and found two more sacks containing bodies.

The victims had no tattoos on their bodies, according to Del Rosario. Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales ordered the immediate identification of the victims, as well as their killers.

“The MPD, under my leadership, abhors the meting out of quick justice or summary killing to anybody especially if perpetrated by police personnel,” he said.