Illegal recruiters tagged in slay of 7 relatives

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — Illegal recruiters are believed to be behind the killing of seven family members who were found buried together in a shallow grave in Sapad, Lanao del Norte on Sunday.

Joselito Gaviola and his wife Marly along with Elvie, Jomar, Jopay, Epifanio and Epifanio, all surnamed Lenara, were reportedly recruited for work in Cagayan de Oro and Cebu City.

The victims paid an initial placement fee of P7,000 each, according to their relatives.

They were reportedly picked up by the recruiters in Pagadian City on Friday.

Maj. Alibsar Daraba, Sapad police chief, said the victims could have been taken outside Lanao del Norte and brought to Barangay Karkum, where they were shot.

The victims were residents of Margossatubig, Zamboanga del Sur.

Police said unidentified men fired shots while forensic experts were sifting through the area where the bodies of the victims were found.

“There were gunshots. That’s why we moved out of the area, taking with us the cadavers of the seven victims,” Daraba said.