Philippine police say killer of David Fisk, Lucetta Cortes and daughter-in-law surrenders

“We will not stop fighting until we find out why, until we get justice for our father and Lucetta.”

Tagaytay police chief Charles Daven M Capagcuan said the suspect worked as a pool cleaner at the Lake Hotel where the body was found and had been recently fired.

“He wanted revenge for being fired by the hotel management,” he said.

Capaquan said the breakthrough in the case came when at least three hotel employees confirmed the suspect’s identity based on photos of his face wearing a mask captured by surveillance cameras.

Capacuan said the identification eventually led police to the suspects’ hometown of Batangas province, which is near Tagaytay. Some valuables of the trio were stolen, but other items were abandoned.

The sisters said they received most of their information from media reports rather than the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.

“My poor sister had to call and then her poor fiancé on Thursday had to call and tell me how they died … No one should have to deal with anything like this,” Brittany said. “We just want to know why, we need more answers.”

Racinda said she had to call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm media reports that they had found the suspect.

“I understand that’s obviously due process, but it doesn’t seem right. It doesn’t seem fair that we have to keep asking for these answers when you’re hoping they’d want to help us.”

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Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino and Capacuang introduced the handcuffed suspect, who was wearing a hoodie, sunglasses and a face mask, at a news conference. The man’s name was not released.

The mayor again apologized to the victims’ relatives and Australia for the “brutal crime” that took place in the city.

Capaquan said officials planned to file criminal charges including robbery and homicide against the suspect, who allegedly admitted that he attacked Fisk with a knife and strangled Lucetta and Mary Jane Cortes before taking Fisk’s watch and shoes.

The killers bound their hands and feet and taped their heads. Lucetta and Mary Jane were suffocated, Cappaquan said last week. Fisk’s throat was slit.

CCTV footage from the hotel showed the male suspect re-entering the room the trio shared after leaving, but he was not seen the first time he went in. Investigators concluded the killer must have entered through an outside window.

Tolentino publicly warned Cappaquan last week that he would fire Cappaquan within seven days if “progress” was not made in catching the suspect.

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