Limbs belonged to alleged ‘tong’ collector – probers

MANILA, Philippines - Severed hands and legs stuffed in a sack and dumped near the Senate building in Pasay City Wednesday were identified to be that of an alleged “tong (protection money)” collector based in the Calabarzon area, police said yesterday.

Helen Bacordo, 43, who identified herself as the wife of businessman Raymundo “Ryan” Bacordo, identified his limbs through a scar on his leg, caused by a traffic accident several years ago, police said.

Investigators are looking into Bacordo’s purported work as a tong collector for police officers in Calabarzon and Camp Crame as among the possible motives for his murder.

“He was brutally killed. We strongly believed that the suspects are very mad at him,” a police investigator told The STAR. “He might have shortchanged his handlers.”

Bacordo was last seen alive leaving his house in Rosario, Batangas at noon Tuesday on board his Mitsubishi Montero Sport, he reportedly recently bought from a policeman.

 “He told his children that he was on his way to a bank to deposit (P500,000), his collection for a week to his police benefactor,” said the investigator, who asked not to be identified.

Police have yet to recover Bacordo’s head and torso, as well as his car. – With Perseus Echeminada