TAGAYTAY CITY — The Philippine Embassy in Australia has confirmed the identities of two Australian nationals and a Filipino found deceased under suspicious circumstances in a luxury hotel in Tagaytay City on July 10.
According to Philippines News Agency, the victims were identified as David James Fisk, 57, and his partner Lucita Barquin-Cortez, 55, both Australian nationals, along with Filipino national Mary Jane Cortez, 30, who is the daughter-in-law of Lucita. The embassy issued a statement extending condolences and condemning the act as "cowardly and senseless." Australian news sources reported that Fisk and Barquin-Cortez were engaged last December.
The victims were found in their hotel room with their hands and feet bound, and mouths taped shut, which prompted the Police Regional Office in Calabarzon (PRO-4A) to activate the "Special Investigation Task Group David Fisk." Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, PRO-4A Regional Director, stated that the task group is intensifying efforts to quickly identify and capture the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible for the crime.