Two former inmates were allegedly murdered just fifteen minutes apart before dawn Saturday in Manila.

Authorities noted that both men, who have yet to identified, have "Batang City Jail (BCJ) 32" tattoos on their bodies, which symbolizes their membership in the gang composed mostly of former jail inmates.

The first victim who was stabbed to death, was described by Manila Police District (MPD) homicide investigators to be 35 and 40-years-old, 5-foot-6 inches tall, dark-skinned, clad in a black and red shirt worn over blue denims.

He was likewise decked with tattoos bearing names such as “Joel Gumila,” “Lhonsky Evangeline K2,” “Chairman Paco Nene,” and “Joy Federico” on his back, aside from the "BCJ 32" mark.

The other victim, who was allegedly smothered, strangled then stuffed inside a brown woolen sack, was between 25 and 35-years-old, 5-foot-8 inches tall, of medium build, sported long, straight hair, and clad in a collared blue and white shirt worn over light blue short pants. He bore “ER,” “BCJ32” and heart-shaped tattoos on the left upper leg.

MPD homicide section reports revealed that the first discovery was made at around 3:45 a.m. Saturday, along Yuchengco Street, Barangay 289 Zone 27, in Binondo.

SPO2 David Tuazon, case investigator, said that the body was found by patrolling barangay watchman Manuel Macalindong lying near a parked closed van (WRZ-933). Macalindong immediately informed the nearest police precinct of the discovery.

Tuazon pointed out that the body bore four stab wounds in the left side of the chest and was brought to the Cruz Funeral Homes for autopsy and safekeeping.

The case investigator theorized that the man could have been killed after he was suspected of carrying out thefts of side mirrors and car batteries, illegal activities that are rampant in the area.

Fifteen minutes later, at around 4:00 a.m. a second body was discovered by 34-year-old street sweeper Joel Padwit along Carpeña Street near the corner of Severino Street in Quiapo.

SPO2 Benito Cabatbat, of the MPD homicide section, said that Padwit had stumbled onto the body, which had been stuffed inside a woolen sack, while he was cleaning the street and immediately informed barangay 391 and 392 officials of the discovery.

Cabatbat revealed that an examination of the body showed that the man had been hogtied with a cable, his face smothered with packaging tape, and black nylon bag straps were looped around his neck. The body also bore a cut on the upper lip, showing he may have been beaten up before he was strangled to death.

The case investigator said that the man was most likely killed elsewhere and was dumped by his killers along Carpeña Street, although no witness to the actual dumping has surfaced.

Homicide investigators are conducting follow-up operations to identify the victims in the two cases as well as to determine the motive behind the killings.