Family massacre in Murcia Negros Occidental claimed the lives of three family members, whose bodies were discovered early morning after being allegedly gunned down the night before in Sitio Guinam-an, Barangay Buenavista, Murcia.
The victims were identified as Neldy Celayes, 59; his wife Josephine Celayes, 60; and their daughter Jovie Celayes, 33.
According to Police Major Sherwin Fernandez, chief of the Murcia Municipal Police Station, the family’s home is located in a sparsely populated area, and nearby residents admitted they heard gunfire around 7:00 p.m. but dismissed it as fireworks.
Locals noted that some in the area had been using firecrackers, which may have masked the sound of gunshots.
Josephine’s sister, alias Neneng, confirmed they also heard animals making noise but didn’t investigate further as they heard no screams or cries for help.
At around 7:00 a.m. the next morning, a resident fetching water discovered Jovie’s body near the well.
Neldy’s body was found behind the back door of their house, while Josephine’s remains were located a few meters away, suggesting that their daughter may have attempted to flee before being shot.
Police are still uncertain about the motive behind the killings, with no known disputes or threats against the family.
Investigators ruled out land-related conflict, and no items appeared stolen, as even a cellphone remained untouched on a table inside the house.
According to Major Fernandez, the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds, though the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) are still finalizing their report.
Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information or suspicious activity they may have witnessed to help identify the suspects.