2 found dead in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The decomposing bodies of a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) employee and a massage therapist were found in separate incidents in Manila, the Manila Police District (MPD) said yesterday.

Jeorge Cortez, 38, was found in his unit at the Grand Towers condominium on Pablo Ocampo street in Malate when security officer Gerald dela China detected a foul smell coming from Cortez’s unit as he did his rounds Monday afternoon.

Police Officer 3 Alonzo Layugan said Cortez is believed to have been dead for several days. He was found lying on his bed and clad only in his underwear.

Investigators said Cortez’s room was not in disarray and that among the victim’s belongings were anti-hypertension medicine.

Meanwhile, the body of massage therapist Noel Natac, 45, was discovered in his rented room by his landlady, Marissa Montealegre, yesterday morning.

Police Officer 3 Amelito Lopez said Montealegre, who maintains a store at the ground floor of her two-story house, noticed a foul-smelling liquid seeping from the ceiling and went to check Natac’s room.

When Natac did not respond when she knocked, Montealegre used a duplicate key and found the body of her tenant – who she last saw Saturday night – lying on the floor of his room. – Sandy Araneta, Rey Galupo