An elderly couple who had been missing for nearly five days was found dead inside sacks in an irrigation canal in Barangay Cabu, Cabanatuan City.

According to a report by Grace Sansano, the victims were identified as Romeo Delos Trinos, 65, and his wife Mely Delos Trinos, 55, residents of Gen. Natividad, Nueva Ecija. Their bodies were discovered in an irrigation canal and were already in an advanced stage of decomposition.

Authorities said the bodies were found after residents passing through the area reported a foul odor coming from the irrigation canal.

Based on the initial investigation, the caretaker of the couple’s house said the victims were last seen alive on the morning of March 6, when they left their home on board their kolong-kolong (improvised tricycle). They reportedly told the caretaker that they were heading to the town of Dilasag.

However, the couple failed to return home and could no longer be contacted. Nearly five days later, two bodies stuffed in sacks were discovered in the irrigation canal and were later positively identified by their relatives as the missing couple.

Authorities later recovered the couple’s kolong-kolong in a remote area in Barangay Platero. The vehicle’s plate number and side mirrors were missing.

The victims’ son, Rome, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, is now appealing for justice and asking anyone with information about the killing of his parents to come forward.

Police are currently conducting backtracking operations to determine the possible route taken by the tricycle and to identify the individuals who may have used the vehicle before the victims were found dead.