BUTUAN CITY (PNA) – A couple was brutally murdered by unidentified armed men in their farmland in Purok Manga, Barangay Arorogan, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, a flash report reaching the regional command and tactical operation center of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez here on Wednesday said.

Northeastern Mindanao PRO 13 regional director Chief Supt. Jaime E. Milla directed the Surigao del Sur provincial police office and Marihatag police station to conduct extensive manhunt against the suspects.

Initial report stated that the couple, identified as Antonio T. Celes, 59 and his wife Carmelita, 60 left their home on Monday, and were found by the victim’s adopted son at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Leonardo M. Dela Cruz, spokesman of PRO 13, quoted a spot report from Surigao del Sur provincial police office stating that the couple bore multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body of still unknown caliber firearm when found by their adopted son, Antonio Jr.

Initial investigation also disclosed that the couple went to their farm on Tuesday afternoon and failed to return home, prompting Antonio Jr. to conduct search the following day.

The son saw his parents lying dead along their farm’s grassy area. Police recovered at the crime scene one right slipper color blue and white believed to be owned by the suspects.

Investigation is still going on to determine the motive of incident and identify and arrest the suspects.