Colonel had past suicide attempts

Police investigators disclosed that the Army colonel that was found dead inside his quarters at the military housing complex in Taguig City last Thursday, had previously attempted to commit suicide.   

Taguig police chief Superintendent Alfred Sotto Corpus said probers have received a report that Col. Roberto Caldeo, 48, had tried to kill himself several times before he was found dead.

“We learned that because of the alleged serious problem of the victim, the latter had tried committing suicide for a number of times,” Sotto said.

He said a suicide note was found in Caldeo’s bedroom. The Army officer stated that he had a big problem and that taking his life is the only solution that will end his suffering.

Caldeo, a staff officer at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College, reportedly asked his relatives for forgiveness in his letter.

Sotto said the investigation is still ongoing and the police will welcome developments on the case including a new angle based on pieces of evidence still being gathered by the police.

“We are not closing our doors on looking at a different angle concerning the death of Col. Caldeo. But since our initial investigation showed there was a suicide note and that there were no signs of force on his person and anywhere on his room caused by another person, it is the suicide angle we will stand by for the meantime,” the police official explained.

Caldeo’s neighbors heard a gunshot from the Army officer’s quarters at 8:30 a.m. last Thursday. The victim was found dead lying on a wooden bed with a gunshot wound in the forehead.

Police recovered a caliber .45 pistol and the suicide note purportedly written by Caldeo at the room

Investigators have ruled out robbery in the case since none of Caldeo’s belongings were missing.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the Army will conduct a separate probe into Caldeo’s death.