The bodies of three members of a family in Murcia town, Province of Negros Occidental were found past 5 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025.

The body of 60-year-old Josephine Celayes was found outside of her residence in Barangay Buenavista. The body of her 59-year-old husband, Neldi, was found near the terrace, face to the floor. 

Found at the back of the house was the body of their 33-year-old son, Jovi.

The three victims sustained gunshot wounds, police confirmed.

According to the police, a sugarcane plantation worker saw Jovi’s body first on his way to fetch water.  

“Ayon sa kanya, kukuha sana siya ng tubig sa balon sa ilalim. Doon na nya nakita ang unang bangkay, ng anak,” Major Sherwin Ferndez, chief of Murcia Municipal Police Station, said.

Jovi lived in a separate house nearby the house of his parents.

The couple had no other companions in the house when the incident happened.

According to relatives of the victims, they heard a series of gunshots past 7 p.m. on May 1, 2025.

“Sunod-sunod na putok ng baril; 12 putok. Akala ko nga five star [a type of firecracker], hindi lang namin pinansin, yun na pala ang nangyari,” Eric Mosico, the couple’s nephew, said.

Police said it is possible that the couple was preoccupied with dinner preparation when the assailants stormed the house.

Police believe that the couple was shot first. When their son arrived, he was possibly chased prior to the shooting.

It is also possible that the victims knew the culprits.

“Posibleng kakilala nila ang perpetrator. Walang sigaw na narinig. Sa nakikita natin, binaril ang tatay, tumakbo. Tapos, ang anak, yun ang witness, sinundan sa ilalim,” Fernandez added.

Two kinds of slugs were recovered from the crime scene.

The authorities, as of posting time, are in the process of identifying the caliber of the guns used.

Land dispute is one of the angles pursued in the investigation.

The family of the victims has cried out for justice. They were not around when the incident happened.

 “Diyos na ang bahala sa kanila. Hustisya lang ang hinihingi ko,” said Elgee Celayes, daughter of the couple, and a sibling of Jovi Celayes.