Family of 3 murdered, bodies torched in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY - An 11-year-old boy and his parents were found dead and charred beyond recognition on Monday in a remote farm village in Isabela City, Basilan province.

Senior Superintendent Albert Larubis, chief of Isabela City Police, identified the victims as Rotillo Gonzaga, 57; his wife Lucia Laurenio-Gozaga, 47; and their son Virgilio, tenants and a farming family of Barangay Kapayawan, a village near the border of Sampinit Complex, a known haven of the militant Abu Sayyaf group in the province.

Larubis said the victims' charred bodies were discovered by their landlord, Rodel Ariola, at around 3:15 p.m. on MOnday while he was visiting his property at Sitio Campo Barn.

The city police chief said investigators have yet to determine how the victims were killed. Their bodies were found in the makeshift coconot kiln dryer.

“The investigating officer found no signs of the weapons used in the murder of the victims and how they were killed except that their bodies were found inside the kiln," he said.

Larubis said investigators are looking at personal grudge as the positive motive for the gruesome killing.