2 Fil-Ams, helper found dead in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino-Americans and their housemaid were found dead inside their residence in San Pablo City in Laguna Sunday afternoon.

Julius Foronda, 51, a former US Marine sustained a slashed throat while Zenaida Foronda, 74, and housemaid identified only as Laleng, sustained multiple stab wounds.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police provincial director, said they would invite for questioning the former driver of the victims as he was seen in the vicinity of the residence days before the massacre.

The former driver was dismissed after allegedly stealing P19,000 from the Foronda household.

Cruz said the bloodied bodies of the victims were discovered by Ceferino Abril, 72, the elder Fronda’s brother-in-law in their residence at 284 Unson street, Barangay 11-C, San Pablo City at about 5 p.m. Sunday.

The younger Foronda sustained two lacerated wounds in the neck which caused his instantaneous death.

The bodies were found in one of the bedrooms of the house.

In an interview, Abril told Cruz that he expressed doubts as to why the victims were not seen leaving their residence the whole day prompting him to seek the help of barangay officials to check the house.

Cruz said there is no sign of forced entry into the house, which was in total disarray. “The appliances were scattered,” said Cruz, noting that there is an ongoing inventory to determine what was missing inside the household.

Recovered near the victims bodies were a broken rifle of unknown caliber and a kitchen knife at the floor in the living room.

Police are still determining the motive in the massacre.

Elements of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) lifted fingerprints and other evidence in the crime scene to help police identify the suspects in the incident. – With Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso