OPOL, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews/06 October) — Police were hoping they could solve the killing of two Swiss nationals Sunday with the CCTV footages of beach resorts in this coastal town.
Philippine National Police Region 10 spokesperson Supt. Michael Pareja said at least one of the resorts had told investigators they will help in the investigation of the death of Robert Erich Loaber, 67, and Balthazar Johann Erni, 78.
Pareja said two or possibly three gunmen shot Loaber and Erni, both Swiss nationals, as they walked out of B. Yasay Beach Resort past 1:20 pm last Sunday.
“We are hoping that the CCTV images will be clear enough to solve the double murders,” Pareja, who declined to identify the names of the resorts, said.
Opol town police chief Senior Insp. Alwin Tenoso Baclao said Loaber and Erni were with their female partners identified only as Teresita and Rowelyn Jane Odchigue.
Police said they are questioning Loaber’s partner Teresita, who is five-month pregnant, and Odchigue, who was Erni’s girlfriend.
Baclao said Loaber sustained a gunshot wound in his cheek and another one in his back. Erni sustained a gunshot wound in his forehead and back.
Loaber died some ten meters from Erni, at the parking lot of B. Yasay Beach Resort.
Baclao said they recovered six cartridges and an unfired cal. 45 bullet from the crime scene.
Resort caretaker Jun Martinez said the two couples were hopping from one resort to another before they finally settled at B. Yasay Resort.
“They rented a small cottage from us for P150 and then ordered chicken, beer and mineral water. They even asked if we had rice which we did not have,” Martinez said as he started a small fire over the spots where the two foreigners died.
“I have to make the fire to burn their blood so their spirits will not linger here. I am scared because I sleep here in the resort. Their spirits may come back,“ he said.
Martinez said the resort owner also instructed him to put some rocks on the spots so no vehicles will trample on them.
“We also have to respect them. Vehicles might run over their blood. They suffered enough,” Martinez said.
The resort caretaker said he heard only two gunshots and was surprised that everyone in the resort was running. He said their place was packed with beach goers being a Sunday.
He said when he came to the parking lot he saw one of the female companions holding to the body of one of the victims.
“I do not remember who it was but I know he was already dead,” he said. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)