ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines – The charred remains of two children were found in an abandoned house in this city Saturday night.
Police identified the victims as John Larry Mendoza, nine; and his niece 11-year-old Jessidel Manalo, both scavengers and residents of Barangay Tugbungan.
Rosanna, the mother of Jessidel and the sister of John Larry, said they learned of the incident when her daughter and brother did not return home.
One of the victims’ companions, who managed to escape, said Alfredo Miranda, 42, the owner of the house captured Jessidel and John Larry when they entered the house to collect scraps.
“The house was really scary but I went inside with barangay tanods who carried flashlights. We found bloodstains. We also found their bloodstained slippers,” Rosanna said.
Police Station 6 commander Chief Inspector Elmer Acuña said the police later found the charred remains of the two victims.
Acuña said police also recovered iron pipes with bloodstains, which the suspect could have used to beat the victims before burning them. He said they found Miranda hidden in a dark corner of the house.
“There was no doubt he was the one behind the gruesome killing,” Acuña said.