Post Office slay victim identified

MANILA, Philippines - A man who was shot dead at the back of the Central Post Office building in Ermita, Manila Wednesday night was finally identified yesterday as a Japanese businessman.

Manila Police District homicide section chief Inspector Armando Macaraeg said Yuichiro Matsutani, 35, was identified by his roommate, Shigeo Arai, 53, at the at the St. Ivan funeral parlor. Arai was accompanied by Japanese embassy vice consul Yoshikazu Narisawa and consular officer Reynaldo Licong, who acted as interpreter.

Matsutani, of Kyoto, Japan, was a businessman who was previously billeted with Arai at the Pearl Lane Hotel in Malate, Macaraeg said.

According to Arai, he was looking for Matsutani since Wednesday night, when he failed to return to their room.  

Police said Matsutani was seen by witnesses walking along the Muelle del Rio behind the Central Post Office with a male companion at around 9 p.m. Wednesday.

The companion reportedly pulled out a gun then shot the victim repeatedly. The suspect was seen running up the stairway of Jones Bridge and throwing the gun into the Pasig River. He left behind a bull cap marked “GA.” Police recovered two slugs from an unknown caliber of firearm at the crime scene.

Macaraeg said the killer could be a professional hitman since he disposed of the gun he used. “With Matsutani’s identity established, the police can then start its probe,” he said.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is also conducting a parallel probe on the killing.