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Monday, June 23, 2008
Charred bodies of Swedish national, wife, 2 kids found in Sibonga
CEBU CITY -- A couple and their two children, ages 5 and 2, were found dead in Sibonga, Cebu, in what police believed to be a case of arson with robbery and multiple homicide.
Responding policemen found around 11 p.m. last Saturday the charred remains of Swedish national Alf Melker Viksten, 60, his Cebuana wife Maria Serenita, 35, and their two children -- Serena Alfeda, 5, and Johannes Alf, 2, in different areas of the victims' two-story house.
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Senior Inspector Noli A. Cernio, Sibonga police station chief, personally handled the investigation into the incident.
He said they recovered a kerosene gas container, 13 shells of caliber .22, and an open cash box with gold coins inside.
He said these were all submitted to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory in Central Visayas for examination.
Cernio, however, could not yet determine all the valuables that may have been taken by the perpetrators because they do not know of anyone whom to ask.
A housemaid would have helped them identify what valuables inside the house were lost, but the victims do not have one.
The Vikstens' house in Sitio Catap, Barangay Banlot, Sibonga was also located far from neighbors.
Cernio believed the victims were likely shot to death first before their bodies were torched, as indicated by the presence of empty shells and a kerosene gas container.
Alf Melker's body was found in the garage, some 20 meters away from the house.
Maria Serenita's body was recovered in the first floor, while the children were found near each other at the second floor.
The victims' remains were taken to the Tupas Funeral Homes in neighboring Carcar City for autopsy.
Cernio said the house was still intact and not damaged by fire.
Authorities, who are looking into robbery as a possible motive for the crime, are now tracking down some personalities who may be behind the killing.
Cernio said Alf Melker is a pensioner, being a Sweden military force retired member.
The Vikstens, he said, were into the lending business, and were known to be good-natured folks. (JST of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (June 23, 2008 issue)
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