Missing five hours: Mystery shrouds death of Aussie couple David Fisk and Lucita Cortez

Police are racing to establish what happened inside a Philippines hotel room after the bodies of an Australian couple were found, with the alleged killer still on the run.

An Australian couple and a Filipino woman have been murdered at a luxury hotel, police say.

Philippines police are investigating whether the person who killed an Australian couple at a resort had been inside their hotel room for five hours.

Australian David James Fisk, 57, his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, a Philippine-born Australian citizen, were staying at The Lake Hotel, at Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of the Philippines capital of Manila.

A third person, reported to be Ms Cortez’s daughter-in-law Mary Jane Cortez, 30, was also found dead with the couple.

Widely-circulated CCTV footage shows the person who is presumed to be their killer leaving their hotel room at about 6am.

The same person is seen again on the footage leaving the room for the first time at 1am.

Local police are looking for the man captured on this vision who was seen wearing a black hoodie and hiding his face.

A hotel worker found the victim’s bodies with their hands and feet bound and packaging tape covering their mouths on Wednesday, according to a police statement.

David James Fisk and his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez were found dead in their hotel room.

David and Lucinda had spontaneously extended their trip just before their shocking deaths.

Mary Jane Cortez, 30, was also killed.

Police are attempting to piece together the motive for the crime.

Some items, including the couple’s mobile phones, were not stolen during the attack.

Tagaytay police chief Charles Daven Capagcuan told reporters there is no reason to “be alarmed about (their) security” following the launch of a special investigation task force into the deaths.

“All our security forces are in full control of our area,” he said.

“We are praying,” Lieutenant Colonel Capagcuan added.

“We are doing our best to resolve this crime.”

Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino said the deaths have been a “wake-up call” after decades without similar incidents.

“Tagaytay City is a tourist-driven local economy,” he said.

“We are a safe place, we are a peaceful place, and for the last 30 years there’s no crime like this in the area.”

Police are searching for a man captured on CCTV who was seen wearing a black hoodie and hiding his face as he entered a hotel room earlier that morning. Picture: Cavite Provincial Police Office

David and Lucinda’s family said the situation is “like a living nightmare”.

Mr Fisk’s family released a statement on Friday, sharing their grief and pleading for answers.

“The love we have for our Father and Lucita is so dear and this situation is like living a nightmare,” the statement read.

“We pray for answers and the truth in this horrific matter and just pray for their safe return to Australian shores.”

“David’s daughters, local known and loved residents in the Sutherland Shire, ask on behalf of their family that the media respect our privacy in this incredibly difficult and tragic time and we will be making no further comment.”

The family has also started a fundraiser to ease financial burden as they look to bring Mr Fisk home.

Originally published as Missing five hours: Mystery shrouds death of Aussie couple David Fisk and Lucita Cortez