By LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO
Authorities discovered the charred remains of a man and a woman inside a vehicle deliberately set ablaze after they were shot on Monday, March 9, in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija.
Police Capt. Vincent S. Taylor, officer in charge of the Peñaranda Municipal Police Station, said the victims—reportedly friends—were found burned beyond recognition inside a red Toyota Wigo (DAR 7847) parked in front of Leong Hup Farm in Barangay Sinasajan.
Responders rushed to the scene around 10 a.m. following reports of a burning vehicle and found two severely burned bodies: the man in the driver’s seat and the woman beside him.
CCTV footage was reviewed, while the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) processed the site.
Initial findings revealed the victims were shot before the car was torched, with spent cartridges recovered nearby.
Reports identified them as a 33-year-old businesswoman and a 45-year-old rescue officer.
The businesswoman had reportedly dropped her child at school before meeting with buyers regarding the sale of an apartment building worth ₱18 million. The rescue officer was accompanying her as driver.
The victims’ families suspect that two prospective buyers present during the transaction may be involved in the crime. They are appealing for justice.
Capt. Taylor said investigators are tracking three to four suspects and are probing financial motives.
Police have withheld the victims’ names while pursuit operations continue.
