2 students commit suicide over failing grades

MANILA, Philippines - Barely three weeks after a student of the University of the Philippines-Manila took her life over failure to pay tuition, two students in Batangas shot themselves dead after receiving failing grades in separate incidents Friday afternoon.

Daveson Beron, 22, a mechanical engineering student at Batangas State University, and Don Benedict Pamintuan, 17, a physical therapy freshman at the De La Salle-Dasmariñas in Cavite, used a caliber .38 revolver and a shotgun, respectively, in killing themselves, according to Batangas police director Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio.

Beron was found with a gunshot wound in the right temple by his mother Analiza at 12:30 p.m. inside their house in Purok 3, Barangay Bolbok, Batangas City, while Pamintuan was found by his father at 4:15 p.m. inside their bathroom in J.P. Laurel Street, Barangay 2, Nasugbu.

Scene of the crime investigators found the caliber .38 revolver beside Beron’s body and a laptop with a message written on its screen: “I’m sorry, I quit.”

Police also found Beron’s cellphone with a message of apology to his parents and siblings for failing to graduate this year. He also asked their forgiveness for having been a disappointment. He thanked them for guiding him, promised he would be watching over them, and asked for prayers.

The family verified school records and was able to confirm that his name was not among the list of graduating students.

Meanwhile, investigators said Pamintuan apparently aimed the shotgun under his chin and pulled the trigger, sending splatters of blood and brain on the walls and ceiling.

The shotgun, owned by a security guard assigned to man the family hardware store, was stored in the stockroom beside the victim’s room.

The family said Pamintuan could have been depressed when he found out that he got failing grades in four subjects, and was to be transferred to the Batangas State University this coming school year.

No suicide note was found beside Pamintuan’s body.

Last March 15, Kristel Tejada, a behavioral science freshman from UP-Manila, drank silver cleaner inside their home in Tondo, after school administrators told her to take a leave of absence from her studies for failing to pay her tuition amounting to P10,000.

Kristel’s death sparked outrage among her fellow UP students and faculty members who demanded to scrap the “no payment, no exam” policy of the institution. UP officials later gave in to their demands.

Three days later, Lee Gunay, a high school sophomore at the St. Bridget College, also in Batangas, shot himself with a caliber .45 pistol after he could no longer take the bullying by his classmates.