Police stumped by mysterious disappearances in Manila school

The disappearances of three people have stumped investigators of the Manila Police District (MPD).

The three who have missing since Tuesday night were identified as Heidelberg Pre-School and Tutorial Center director Reynaldo Aguilar, a resident of Quezon City; building caretaker Tony Austria; and 10-year-old Jessie James Marcella, a student from another school who occasionally helps out at the pre-school in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

MPD Station 3 commander Superintendent James Afalla said that when investigators went to the school where the three were last seen, they saw a trail of blood, which was discovered by a stay-in employee on Wednesday morning.

Aguilar, Austria and Marcella were last spotted on Tuesday night at the school located on the second floor of the ASL Building on P. Guevarra Street, according to Inspector Pilar Acuna, chief of the nearby Alvarez Police Community Precinct.

Several of Austria’s friends told the police that they had a few drinks with him at the school until 8:30 p.m. This was also confirmed by some barangay (village) watchmen.

Marcella’s mother, Joanna, told the police that her son went to the school on Tuesday night to help out with errands. He never came home.

Aguilar, on the other hand, left the school in his car at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, witnesses told the police.

The blood trail extended from the school entrance on the second floor down to the first floor of the building. It ended up in front of the door leading to Austria’s room which was locked.

When it was forced open, more blood was discovered on the floor and in the toilet. His things were also in disarray, the police said.

The police tried to contact Austria and Aguilar by phone yesterday but their efforts proved futile.

“At this point, we can only classify these as mysterious disappearances. We’ve contacted the families [of the three] but they are all [clueless] on the whereabouts of their loved ones. No contact has been made with any of them,” Afalla said.