A sleepy, idyllic tourist destination has been stunned by the quadruple murder of four people who were stabbed to death as they slept.
A British architect, a Hong Kong art dealer, a German property developer and a Filipino maid were repeatedly stabbed in their beds in a luxury villa on the Philippines island of Borocay.
The Times reports that the killings have “appalled” the community on the island, which is famed for its pristine beaches and laid-back lifestyle. The newspaper quotes local reports suggesting that the motive may have been robbery, though the villa was reportedly left in such disarray that it was difficult to tell whether anything had been stolen.
The Times quotes the president of the Philippines Tourist Commission as saying that the island should still be considered safe, and that the killers would be caught. It states that the island has 12,000 residents, many of whom are westerners, and that it has until now enjoyed a safe reputation.
One unidentified hotel owner reportedly said that the killings could not have come at a worse time, as the island’s tourist industry is still recovering from the damage done by the 2002 Bali bombings.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
