Police in the Philippines said Monday they have launched an investigation into the shooting death of a Japanese karaoke bar owner on Mindanao last month.
Hidetsugu Takahashi, 53, who operated Yume Music Lounge in Valencia City in Bukidnon Province, was shot in the head May 23 at his rented flat in the city, police said.
"Our initial investigation shows that it could be a murder case," police officer Nelson Neri said by telephone.
Neri said Takahashi had been living in the city for about three or four years. He had married a 24-year-old local woman just two weeks before the murder.
Police have ruled out robbery because nothing was stolen from the victim's house, and his wallet, mobile phone and other belongings were intact.
Takahashi's wife told police he went home from their bar around 10 p.m., but she decided to stay behind.