Old Chinese woman found dead inside house

MANILA, Philippines - An unbearable stink coming from a two-story house in Sta. Cruz, Manila led to the discovery of the decomposing body of an old Chinese woman yesterday morning.

According to investigator PO3 Jonathan Ruiz, residents along Severino Reyes street in Sta. Cruz have been bothered by a stench similar to a dead rat which noticeably had been getting stronger and unbearable with each passing day, prompting the neighborhood to trace its source.

When they found out that the stink was coming from a locked two-story house occupied by an old Chinese woman, the residents sought the assistance of fire volunteers to force open the door of the house.

Inside the house, residents discovered the body of the woman in its early stage of decomposition lying on her back at the sala. A cat was watching over the body, Ruiz said.

Sixty-three years old Jose Yu, who told police he is a friend of the deceased, identified the body as that of Loleng Ty, a Chinese, aged between 75 and 80. Residents told police that the woman was living alone in the house.

Ruiz said no prominent signs of external body injuries were noted on the deceased. He estimated that the woman could be dead for at least seven days when her body was discovered as evidenced by the detachable daily Chinese calendar on the wall which showed the date as May 26.

Ruiz said the case will be placed under further investigation pending the results of the autopsy.

Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo who heads the homicide section of the Manila Police District has notified the Chinese embassy of the death of their compatriot.