A Japanese businessman based in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and three Filipinos, one of them a minor, are being hunted by the police for the gruesome murder of two Japanese tourists last week.
Inspector Ric Ramos, spokesman of the Palawan Provincial Police Office, said the Japanese suspect, who might have allegedly masterminded the double murder case, was identified by three arrested suspects as Hiroyuki Nagaham who has a business address in Barangay San Manuel, Puerto Princesa.
Citing details from the filed report of Senior Inspector Thirz Starky Timbangcaya, Ramos said that also being hunted is a certain Sonny Anicete, a resident of Puerto Princesa City.
The police said Anicete is allegedly the leader of the group who murdered Itani Masaru, 59, and Arai Yoshihiro, 24.
Two other suspects, Joebez Vizcara and a minor, are also at large.
The dismembered bodies of the two victims were recovered Friday afternoon in a remote island located west of Galoc Island in Culion.
Ramos said the suspects who are yet to be arrested were identified by Michael Suangco, Aladin Mohameran and Reynante Labampa.
The three were among the group who murdered the two Japanese.
Timbangcaya said the three confessed to the crime.
He said the victims were shot in the head and dismembered.
Their bodies were dumped off Coron and then the victims’ boat was skippered by Suangco alias Dondon, of Sitio Lulu, Barangay Binudac, Culion.
The victims boarded Suangco’s motorized boat on Tuesday.
The management of the GMG Hotel in Coron reported to the police that their Japanese guests were missing on Wednesday.
Ramos said the victims were off on an island hopping tour. But they failed to return until Wednesday morning.
The management of the GMG Hotel in Barangay 2, Coron where the victims were staying reported to the police the missing guests after they failed to return the next day.
Their bodies were recovered Friday by a search and rescue police team.
