University exec, driver found dead in car

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) and his driver were found dead in a sport utility vehicle (SUV) parked at a gasoline station in Pandacan, Manila Friday night. 

An employee noticed the SUV had been parked in front of the restroom at the gas station along Quirino Avenue since noon on Friday, according to a radio dzBB report.

Edilberto Eslera noticed that the occupants of the Ford Everest – Reynaldo Chinjen, 66, vice president for external affairs of TIP; and his driver, Claudio Flojo – were not moving and called the police, according to Senior Police Officer 2 Bernardo Cayabyab.

The incident was reported to Manila Police District, which sent members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives to the site to inspect the vehicle.

At around 7 p.m. Friday, police officers forced open the SUV and reportedly found an unidentified volatile liquid on the floor of the backseat.

Police found new clothes and a plastic bag filled with barbecue in the vehicle. 

They are investigating whether the victims died of suffocation from the liquid’s fumes or if foul play was involved.