Guard hogtied, stabbed dead in Ermita mall

MANILA, Philippines –  The body of a security guard was found hogtied and bearing stab wounds at the third floor of a mall along Pedro Gil street in Ermita, Manila Friday night.

Homicide chief Inspector Armando Macaraeg identified the victim as Joseph Duque, 23, of the Third Alert Security Agency. He was a roving guard who was supposed to be on duty from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Macaraeg said Duque’s body was discovered at the fire exit of the mall’s third level at around 11 p.m. by the mall’s electrician, Wilson Quiroz.

Investigators said Duque had stab wounds in the chest and throat. His feet and hands were tied with electric wire. He was also strangled with his own belt.

Police still do not know who killed him and why, but Macaraeg said the victim could have caught his killers off their guard as they were planning to rob stalls in the mall.

He added that at least two persons may be involved “since the guard was tall and muscular.”

“The victim may also be familiar with the suspects so they finished him off to escape identification,” Macaraeg said.

Investigators are currently checking on stall owners to determine whether they had been robbed.

Other mall guards will also be questioned, according to Macaraeg.