The hotel worker accused of murdering an Australian couple and their relative while on holiday in the Philippines reportedly wanted to ‘get back at’ his employer after he was fired.
David James Fisk, 57, his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, a Philippine-born Australian citizen, and their daughter-in-law Mary Jane Cortez, 30, were found dead at The Lake Hotel, in Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of Manila.
Hotel staff discovered the matter on July 10, when the trio failed to check out.
All three victims were reportedly found face down, with their hands and feet bound and their mouths covered with tape.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Tagaytay Police Chief Charles Daven M Capagcuan announced that a man had “surrendered” to officers at 1:38 a.m. on Wednesday in connection with the killings.
According to the report of the Cavite Provincial Police Office, the 33-year-old man, known by the alias “Ronel,” was a former employee of the hotel.
“The investigation revealed that the suspect took revenge on the hotel management for his dismissal, which led to the tragic deaths of the victims,” the report said.
Mr Capagcuan told reporters at the news conference that Ronel worked as a cleaner at the hotel’s swimming pool and “wanted to appeal to the hotel management for his dismissal”.
A man suspected of killing an Australian couple and their relative while they were on holiday in the Philippines has handed himself in to police (pictured)
Police explained that the man (pictured) was a disgruntled former employee of the hotel where the bodies were found
Mayor Abraham Tolentino and Capagcuan presented the suspect during a press conference.
The man was led into the room in handcuffs and was wearing a hooded jacket, dark sunglasses and a black face mask.
Mr. Capagcuan explained that the suspect “surrendered” himself to authorities after police responded to his home in Batangas province, near Tagaytay, on Tuesday night.
The development comes after police spent the past week searching for a man spotted on CCTV leaving the room on the day of the alleged murders.
Security camera footage from the hotel showed the man leaving the room wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, maroon shorts, sneakers and a black backpack.
According to Mr Capagcuan, the suspect was identified by at least three hotel employees based on footage captured by security cameras.
Police reportedly plan to charge the suspect with murder and robbery after he allegedly admitted taking Mr Fisk’s watch and shoes after the attack.
According to local media, hotel security guard Rodney Parahinog encountered the man at the entrance of the resort at 6am on Wednesday and asked him where he was going.
According to Mr Parahinog, the man replied that he was a guest and that he was holding a key card to Mr Fisk’s room.
Pictured: Australian citizen David James Fisk, 57, his Philippine-born Australian wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55
The three murder victims are pictured left and center, along with another family member (right) during Mr. Fisk’s visit to the Philippines with his partner Lucita Barquin Cortez
Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino (center) apologized to the families of the victims and to Australia for the brutal killings that took place in his city.
On Friday, Fisk’s family released a statement expressing their grief and pleading for answers to questions about the horrific death.
“The love we feel for our father and Lucita is so great and this situation is like a nightmare,” the statement said.
‘We pray for answers and the truth in this horrific case and pray for their safe return to Australian shores.
‘David’s daughters, well-known and much-loved locals in Sutherland Shire, ask on behalf of their family that the media respects our privacy at this incredibly difficult and tragic time. We will not be commenting further.’
The family has a GoFundMe to help ‘obtain justice for all loved ones involved’ and will be used to ‘relieve the financial stress and burden resulting from this incredibly difficult time’.
Mr Fisk’s body will be taken to Sydney, while both women will be buried in the Philippines. The government will pay for the funeral and cremation.