2 MISSING JAPANESE FOUND DEAD IN PALAWAN

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY— Two Japanese nationals reported missing in the resort town of Coron, Palawan since Tuesday were found dead off a remote island in Culion in Northern Palawan.

Police investigators have detained three residents of Culion as murder suspects and are on the hunt for another Japanese national, who allegedly ordered the killings, and several other Filipino associates.

The bodies of the victims—Itani Masaru, 59, and Arai Yoshihiro, 24—were recovered by a police search and rescue team on Friday in the remote Galoc Island in Culion after three of the suspects confessed to authorities.

A report filed by Senior Insp. Thirz Starky Timbangcaya identified the suspects in custody as Michael Suangco, Aladin Mohameran and Reynante Labampa.

They had told investigators that the victims were shot and their bodies dismembered before being dumped in the water together with a boat that the victims used when they left Coron.

Investigators identified a certain Hiroyuki Nagaham, a businessman with address in Barangay San Manuel, Puerto Princesa City, as the suspected mastermind.

Police are also looking for a Sonny Anicete, a resident of Puerto Princesa City, who had been identified by the arrested suspects as their leader.

Two others, a certain Joebez Vizcara and an unidentified minor, are also being hunted.

The victims left their hotel in Coron on Tuesday purportedly to go on an island-hopping tour. Staff at the GMG Hotel, where the victims had been booked, reported the Japanese missing after they failed to return on Wednesday.