Navy intel officer found dead in Batangas

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A Philippine Navy member was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in Sto. Tomas, Batangas on Friday night.

Police withheld the identity of the victim, reportedly a Navy intelligence officer, who was found in an abandoned Toyota Innova along Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Rafael at around 10:40 p.m.

The victim had gunshot wounds in the head and body, probers said.

They said the victim could have been killed elsewhere and then taken to the area to mislead investigators.

A follow-up operation conducted by a joint team from the Laguna and Batangas police as well as Naval Intelligence Security Group-National Capital Region resulted in the arrest of two suspects  at a tollgate of the South Luzon Expressway on Saturday night.

The men – identified only as Carlo, 26, and Jay, 29 – were in a rented Toyota Vios, which the joint team pulled over at around 7:20 p.m.

The team seized from the suspects a Glock pistol issued to the victim.

Aside from the firearm, authorities seized ammunition and the rented car from the suspects, who were taken to the police station for questioning.

Probers have yet to determine the motive for the killing.