Metrobriefs

Foul stench leads to discovery of 2 bodies

Two men who lived by themselves in Manila were found dead days after they were believed to have passed away. In both cases, an overpowering stench led to the discovery of the bodies which had already started to decompose. One of the men was identified as Jeorge Cortez, 38, who worked for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

His body was found on Monday afternoon in his unit at the 40th floor of Grand Towers condominium on Pablo Ocampo. He was last seen on Friday after he got home and went up to his unit.

Police Officer 3 Alonzo Layugan of the Manila Police District homicide section said the body was discovered by security officer Gerald de la China who said he smelled something foul coming from the victim’s unit.

When he forced the door open, he found Cortez lying on his bed in his underwear.

The police said that judging by Cortez’s appearance, he had been dead for at least four days. Cortez’s father told the police that his son was hospitalized for chest pains last year and had since been placed on medication for hypertension. Meanwhile, the owner of a house in Malate, Manila, found the body of one of her tenants, a 45-year-old massage therapist, after she noticed water seeping from the ceiling around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Marissa Montealegre said that when she tried to trace the source of the water which had a foul stench, she found that it was coming from Noel Natac’s room.

“From the door, she detected a stench from inside the room and used her duplicate key to open the door,” said PO3 Amelito Lopez of the Manila Police District homicide section. Inside, she found Natac’s bloated body, a discovery which led her to call the police.

According to Montealegre, Natac was last seen on Saturday night after he came home following a drinking spree with his friends. “He [Natac] usually stayed inside his rented room whenever he went home so nobody suspected that anything bad had happened to him,” Lopez said, adding that none of the people living in the house noticed the smell of decay before the discovery of the body. Natac’s body was brought to a funeral parlor in Malate for autopsy. Jeannette I. Andrade

QC urges artists to apply for accreditation

The Quezon City government has urged artists to apply for accreditation and become part of a pioneer group that will draft the city’s first culture and arts development plan. “This way, the city government can offer its support to a network of artists for the benefit of the community,” said Ryan Murillo of the Office of Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte. The artists, including musicians, theater actors and visual artists, will form part of the Quezon City Culture and Arts Council which will be under Belmonte’s office. Belmonte said the accreditation was aimed at building a network of artists to boost their talents and  capacity to produce works of art and other artistic creations, part of the city government’s efforts to make Quezon City the center of arts and culture in Metro Manila. Those who want to apply can go to Belmonte’s office at Quezon City Hall or call at 4447272 local 8208 for more information. Julie M. Aurelio