Daughters speak after man suspected of killing Aussie couple in The Philippines turns himself in

The family of an Australian couple who were killed in their hotel room in The Philippines have broken down as they questioned why it happened.

The family of an Australian man murdered in his hotel room alongside his wife and daughter-in-law in The Philippines say they’re struggling to understand how anyone could be so “cruel” in hurting innocent people.

Local officials confirmed on Wednesday that a man handed himself into police after the bodies of David James Fisk, 57, and his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, were found dead inside their Lake Hotel room in Tagaytay, south of Manila, on Wednesday last week.

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

The bodies of Lucita Cortez and David Fisk were found inside their Lake Hotel room in Tagaytay, south of Manila, on Wednesday.

It is understood the man accused of killing the trio was a former employee of the hotel who wanted to “get back at the hotel management” for his dismissal.

Mr Fisk’s daughters, Lucinda and Brittany Fisk, said they have been afraid and confused ever since learning their father had been killed.

“We have been living and continuing to live a nightmare until any of this makes sense,” Lucinda told 9News.

“For someone to take our father away from us so cruelly... it just doesn’t make sense.

“We won’t stop fighting until we find out why, and we won’t stop fighting until we have justice for our father and Lucita.”

Brittany said she hoped nobody else will ever have to go through the nightmare her family are enduring.

“I’m angry, I’m really angry, and I’m scared... I don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” she said.

David Fisk’s daughters, Lucinda and Brittany, say they’re confused since hearing their father was killed. Picture: 9NEWS

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

Tagaytay police chief Lieutenant Colonel Charles Daven Capagcuan said the suspect had handed himself into police.

The man reportedly used to work as a swimming pool cleaner at the hotel where the bodies of the Australian couple and Ms Cortez were found, Mr Capagcuan told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.

Suspek sa pagpatay sa Austalian, kinakasamang Pinay at manugang nito sa isang hotel sa Tagaytay City, hawak na ng pulisya@[e-mail]/LpGmbPl8c1

— Hannibal Talete (@HannibalGeneral) July 16, 2024

“He wanted to get back at the hotel management for his dismissal,” Mr Capagcuan said.

Lieutenant Colonel Capagcuan said the breakthrough in came after hotel employees identified the man using security footage.

Police then attended his home in the province of Batangas, near Tagaytay, where he surrendered and turned himself in.

The man allegedly acknowledged he attacked Mr Fisk with a knife, and suffocated Ms Barquin and Ms Cortez before taking Mr Fisk’s watch and shoes.

Officials are reportedly also planning to file criminal complaints of robbery against the man.

The man appeared handcuffed at a press conference on Wednesday morning with Mr Capagcuan and Tagatay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

Mr Tolentino again apologised for the “brutal crimes”.

A man seen outside a room at The Lake Hotel, Tagaytay in the Philippines. Picture: Cavite police/AP

Widely circulated CCTV footage showed the person who was presumed to be the killer leaving the couple’s 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 were looking for the man captured on this vision who was seen wearing a black hoodie and hiding his face.

The motive of the attack is still unclear.

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

Mr Tolentino said the deaths had 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.”

Mary Jane Cortez was also killed.

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 Daughters speak after man suspected of killing Aussie couple in The Philippines turns himself in