Tourist kills pal, dumps body

MANILA, Philippines – A Chinese tourist confessed yesterday to killing his companion, stuffing his body in a travelling bag and dumping it in Bacoor, Cavite.

Jason Lee, who is in his mid-30s, told police he repeatedly stabbed John Leo Tabara, 23, in a fit of rage because the victim kept on asking for more money, Pasay police chief Senior Superintendent Joel Doria said.

He said a security officer was patrolling the 11th floor of the condominium and found the door of Lee’s unit ajar at around 4 a.m. yesterday. When the security officer looked inside, he saw blood splattered on the walls.

The security officer reported the incident to the police.

Doria said based on closed-circuit television footage, Lee and his companion entered the unit at around 10 p.m. Friday. Lee was seen on CCTV footage loading boxes and a travelling bag onto a luggage cart at past midnight yesterday.

“It was also noted that Jason had a hard time bringing the travelling bag as it appeared heavy,” he said.

Lee left the condominium alone. The Pasay police had sent out a team to search for Lee, who returned at past noon yesterday just as crime scene investigators were about to process his blood-spattered unit.

He tried to escape but was arrested by security officers at the condominium. 

Lee told investigators he dumped Tabara’s body somewhere along Coastal Road. Doria said the body was found in Bacoor and verified to be that of Tabora. 

He said the suspect is undergoing custodial investigation and police officers are conducting a background check on Lee.

 “As of now we still do not know the motive for the killing. We are looking into all possible angles,” Doria said without elaborating.