Japanese tenant dies after fall from Makati City condo

A 38-YEAR-OLD Japanese national fell to his death from the 20th floor of a Makati City condominium before dawn Tuesday.

PO3 Nilo Sadsad of the Makati Police identified the fatality as Morichika Shuichi, reportedly an employee of Toyota Motors Philippines in Sta. Rosa, Laguna province.

Sadsad said Shuichi sustained severe head and body injuries as a result of the fall at around 1 a.m. from his unit at Palisades Condominium in Legaspi Village.

His body landed on the concrete pavement on Perea Street, the investigator said.

Police said they were not yet ruling out foul play and were conducting an investigation to determine if the fall was an accident or a case of suicide.

Prior to the incident, the victim and his live-in partner, Jessa Savallero, were reportedly fighting.

“The victim arrived home around midnight apparently drunk. Savallero confronted him and asked where he had been. A heated argument then ensued,” Sadsad said.

At the height of the argument, the victim rushed outside the veranda and threatened to kill himself by jumping off the building when he saw Savallero packing her things to leave him.

Before he fell, the victim reportedly managed to hold on to the veranda railing, but Savallero and condominium security officers whom she asked for help failed to save him.

“They said the victim was so heavy,” Sadsad said.

Police said they were still waiting for the results of the autopsy conducted on Shuichi.