MANILA, Philippines–Police authorities are now in pursuit of the suspect behind the killing of two young girls in Caloocan City. The suspect was identified as Gilbert Fullosa, 25, said to be a neighbor of the victims.

According to various news sources, drops of blood were seen from the house of the victims leading to Fullosa’s house. Witnesses have also told police that the suspect and another man were seen in front of the house of the victims before the incident happened.

Initial investigation showed that the suspect seemed to have entered through the roof of the house, then escaped by breaking the lock of the front door. Then he used a kitchen knife at the victims’ house to kill the young girls.

The victims – Diana Rose Liza Ulam, 15 and Joana Liza Coronado, 10 – were stabbed several times, the night they were left alone at home by the mother of Coronado. The mother, according to reports, had to go home to the province to visit her husband. So Ulam was tasked to look after her younger cousin.

Their bodies were found by the father of Ulam on Sunday morning, when he went to check on them. The body of Ulam was discovered in the living room, bearing multiple stab wounds. Meanwhile, Coronado’s body was seen at the bathroom with strangulation marks on her neck and multiple stab wounds. Police are also investigating if Coronado was raped because her lower garments were pulled down.

Police are still looking at the possible motives for the crime as well as when and how the crime was exactly perpetrated. But further investigations disclosed that Fullosa had courted Ulam but was turned down.

Fullosa is said to have a previous case of rape filed before the Bacoor Regional Trial Court.