Police arrest German in Boracay killings

A German national was recently arrested and is set to be charged by the police in connection with the killing of three Germans and a Filipina in Boracay, central Philippines on May 2.

Police reports said forensic experts found that the bloody footprints found at the crime scene matched those of the German friend of Patrick Higgs, a British national who discovered the bodies.

In their examination, the forensic experts said the footprints showed that the German suspect was present at the crime scene before the bodies of the victims were discovered, police sources said.

Sources who demanded anonymity identified the German only as "HWE," said to be a close friend of Higgs.

Higgs, a close family friend Anton Faustenhauser, found the bodies of the victims inside the mansion of Faustenhauser at about 5:30 pm on May 3. Swiss-born art gallery owner Manfred Schoeni, German property developer and villa owner Anton Faustenhauser, and Hong Kong-based British architect John Cowperthwaite and a Filipina maid were found stabbed to death on May 2 in Faustenhauser's luxurious villa La Dolce Vita.

"We have good leads but we need enough time to have an airtight case against the suspects," said Police Regional Office 6 director Chief Supt. George Alino.

Alino said robbery was probably the motive because the mansion was ransacked.

At the same time, police yesterday said they had released five local labourers detained over brutal murders on island of Boracay and were probing the possible involvement of a foreigner.

Canieso said all of the Filipino construction workers had since been released after questioning.