Japanese found buried in Pangasinan

MANILA, Philippines - The body of a Japanese national was found buried near Hundred Islands in Alaminos City in Pangasinan over the weekend.

Ilocos police director Chief Superintendent Frank Bucayu identified the fatality as Tsutomu Hiraga of Saitama, Japan.

Police are tracking down a fellow Japanese identified as Mitsuaki Sato, 59, to shed light on the death of Hiraga.

Senior Superintendent Angelito Dumangeng, operations chief of the Ilocos police, said the victim’s body was discovered last Dec. 1 near Hundred Islands.

Hiraga’s hands were tied with a rope, police said.

Police said Sato arrived in the country on Nov. 27 and checked in at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. Two days later, he joined Hiraga in going to the Camantiles Island on board a motorboat operated by Jeffrey Mirante, 42.