2 bodies, 1 allegedly of ex-Batangas solon, found inside burned car in Quezon

Photo from Quezon Police Provincial Office

MANILA, Philippines — The remains of three persons, one of them allegedly of former Batangas Rep. Edgar Mendoza, were found inside a burned car in Tiaong town in Quezon province early Thursday.

Police Major Lawrence Panganiban, Tiaong police chief, said the police station received a telephone call around 1:45 a.m. that a Honda Civic car (DND 6374) had been burning on a bridge in Barangay San Francisco since 12:20 a.m.

Authorities were able to extinguish the burning vehicle at 2:28 a.m. after which they were able to retrieve the remains of the three individuals.

Panganiban said they also found an identification card of Mendoza inside the car, which led them to coordinate with the authorities in Batangas.

“We can only determine two charred remains. But since they were burned beyond recognition, we will wait for the final result of the investigation,” Panganiban said.

He said the family of Mendoza confirmed that the car belongs to the former lawmaker, who was with a driver and a bodyguard.

The other remains were suspected to be Ruel Ruiz’s, which was the driver, and Nicanor Mendoza’s, which was the bodyguard.

Police said the son of the former lawmaker said he last saw his father alive on Thursday morning with his driver and bodyguard.

They were going to have lunch with some relatives, after which they will go to Calamba City, Laguna, to meet a client.

Meanwhile, fire investigators are still in the process of determining the cause of the fire.

Photo from Quezon Police Provincial Office

Photo from Quezon Police Provincial Office