26-year-old car trader found dead in Tagaytay City

The naked body of a 26-year-old car trader was found by police in an overgrown area in Tagaytay City last December 23. 

According to Emil Sumangil’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the hands and feet of victim John Lester Amin were tied up, and his mouth and eyes were covered in packing tape.

“Initially nakitaan natin siya ng mga saksak sa katawan, maliban doon, wala na tayong nakitang mga injuries niya,” said Tagaytay City Police chief Lt. Col. Ryan Manongdo. 

(Initially, we discovered stab wounds on his body. Aside from those, we didn't find any other injuries.) 

“It took us almost three days para ma-identify ang biktima…Positibong inidentify ng ka-live in…” he added. 

(It took us almost three days to identify the victim… He was positively identified by his live-in partner.) 

The police said the victim left his home in Quezon City last December 22 to meet with a group of men for a business transaction. 

“Meron tayong apat na persons of interest. Identified na natin ‘yung isa diyan. Isa sa mga theory namin, may mga transaction o nagtitinda ng sasakyan itong biktima - isa ‘yun sa posibleng tinitingnan nila,” said Manongdo. 

(We have four persons of interest. We have already identified one of them. One of our theories is that the victim had transactions or was selling vehicles—that is one of the possible [motives] being looked into.) 

“Kaya siya nagmamadaling umalis noong gabi na iyon. May recently siya na dini-dispose o tina-transact na sasakyan. ‘Yun ang initial natin na impormasyon,” he also said.

(That’s why he was in a hurry to leave that night. He had a vehicle he was recently disposing of or transacting. That is our initial information.)

One of the persons of interest is a relative of the victim, who was one of the last persons that he was with, according to police.

“Hindi natin makitaan na pinwersa ‘yung ating biktima, bagkus ay parang sumama siya mismo doon sa sasakyan,” said Manongdo.

(We don’t see any signs that the victim was forced; rather, it appears he joined them in the vehicle willingly.)

Police secured CCTV footage in all places where the victim was last seen. They added they have sufficient evidence on the case.

“Palakasin natin ang loob nung [kanyang] ka-live-in, upang maisampa na…kailangan na natin ‘yung statement niya,” said Manongdo.

(We need to encourage [his] live-in partner so that [the case] can be filed… we need her statement.)

“Actually, may mga ebidensya na tayo - na nagko-collaborate na doon sa initial statement niya, nagko-connect na.”

(Actually, we already have evidence—it’s already collaborating with her initial statement; things are connecting now.)

GMA Integrated News visited the victim’s last known address and his partner. However, the homeowner’s association president said they do not know the victim. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News