Hogtied victims found floating at Chico River : Church pushes probe over Kalinga killings

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Police are now investigating the murder of two Anglicans whose bodies were found floating at the Chico River last week with their hands hogtied in what residents said was a resurgence of violence.

Cops investigating the killings said they were looking into all motives and angles even as Fr. Gabriel Dapuyen, dean and rector of the Anglican Church’s Holy Trinity Cathedral in Barangay Bulanao here, told newsmen he asked for fast investigation on the cases saying more violence could ensue as a result of the killings.

Dapuyen said it was in Bulanao where Nick Maguinsay, married, resident of Duldulao, Malibcong, Abra, small-scale miner in Guinaang Pasil, and Joren Maguinsay, 23, single, resident of Luba, Abra, jobless, were last seen alive at 5 p.m. last Jan. 10.

He added the church has yet to be informed why the two were killed, adding no witness to the crime surfaced.

Residents took Nick’s body out of the River at Pasonglao, Calanan, this city last Jan. 11, while that of Joren was found floating in Tuliao, also in Calanan at about 4 p.m. the following day.
Nick was hogtied with his hands behind him. The body bore nine stab wounds.

The body of Joren had 18 wounds believed to have been inflicted by a bullet.

According to Dapuyen, the two victims visited the church with Jefferson Maguinsay, the catechist of the cathedral, who is a brother of Nick and cousin of Joren. The bodies were brought to their respective native places in Abra after a mass held on Jan. 13, the priest said. -- EA