Malabon employee, son hogtied, killed

MANILA, Philippines - A city hall employee and his 19-year-old son were found hogtied, their throats slit, in their bedrooms in Barangay Ibaba, Malabon City yesterday morning.

Record officer Felizardo Coralde, 47, and his son, Albert, were found by his wife, Vilma, and other family members at around 5 a.m., Malabon police chief Senior Superintendent Severino Abad said.

Abad said initial investigation points to robbery as a motive in the killing “but we are not closing our doors to any other possibilities.”

Vilma told investigators that some of their things were scattered on the floor and some items – a tablet, a laptop, several cell phones and pieces of jewelry – were missing.

Abad said there were no closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area but they are following up reports that neighbors saw two men running away from the Coralde house shortly before 3 a.m. The two men then reportedly road a pedicab.

Coralde’s daughter, Catherine, told police she heard a commotion in her father’s room at around 2:30 a.m. but did not bother to check. Investigators said the killing could have happened at around that time.

Abad said they are also investigating how the suspects managed to enter the house, which is “a relatively peaceful” area.

“We were surprised about this incident because nothing such as this had happened in the past in the area. We will push for the installation of additional CCTVs not only in Barangay Ibaba but also in other areas to at least deter criminals,” he said.