Inn owner found dead in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A businesswoman and known philanthropist here was found dead inside a studio apartment on Don Basilio Navarro St., San Jose Cawa-Cawa village.

Chief Insp. Elmer Solon, the commanding officer of the Zamboanga
City police, said Ridzma Udday Alih, 59, owner of RUA Pension Inn, was found inside the room in a prone position, an electrical extension wire and cellular phone cord tied around her neck.

The police are looking for persons of interest, noting the victim’s reported missing cash and gold – estimated to amount to P3 million.

Pension personnel first observed that their employer had not been seen for three days at the inn. At 2 p.m. Wednesday, they noticed a foul smell coming from Alih’s studio room on the third floor.

Aside from the electrical extension wire and cellular phone cord around her neck, scene of the crime operatives (Soco) also found a fatal wound on her forehead.

Solon said the victim was already in the early state of decomposition when her body was brought to a nearby funeral parlor.

Alih has been known in the community for her donations, which helped build mosques in Muslim communities.

Solon said they were looking into who could be behind the heinous crime.

Alih’s room was in shambles and her safe, where she kept her valuables,
was already emptied. /kga