Japanese woman found dead inside Cebu condo unit

[wpgmappity id=”0″]

CEBU CITY, Philippines—A Japanese female was found dead inside a condominium unit in Barangay (village) Guadalupe, this city Wednesday morning.

Senior Police Officer 1 Ruth Violango, Cebu City police homicide section investigator, identified the victim as Reiko Takahashi, 63, a native of Shizuoka, Japan, but temporarily residing at Woodcrest Residences in Don Gervacio Quijada St., Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Melisa Mendoza, administrator of the Woodcrest Residences, found Takahashi’s body lying on the floor and wearing a house dress inside condo unit 326. Mendoza discovered the body after she traced the foul odor to the unit.

The occupants of condo unit 319 had complained of the foul odor, Violango said.

The police officer said there was no sign of foul play. Takahashi’s rented condo unit was locked from the inside and her belongings remained intact, she added.

Mendoza had to hire a locksmith to open the locked door to the unit.

Based on her passport, Takahashi arrived in Cebu last April 23, Violango said.

The police learned that Takahashi, who had been staying at the condo unit for four months, had cancer. However, the police have yet to determine what type of cancer the Japanese national had.

Takahashi, who had informed Mendoza that she would not be accepting any visitor, was last seen on August 17 carrying groceries.

Mendoza also told the police that Takahashi did not have a job, Violango said.