Tricycle driver found dead

CEBU, Philippines - A 31-year-old tricycle driver was found dead Tuesday, hanging on a rope by his neck inside his home in sitio Sambagan, barangay Tanke, Talisay City.

Cresenciano Cabanes was found already dead by his wife and the police, dangling from a rope tied around his neck.

Police said Cabanes tried to end his life four times in the past. It was his fifth time to attempt to end his life, and it was only last Tuesday that he succeeded. He was suspected to be a drug user.

His neighbors said that at around 4 p.m. Tuesday, Cabanes had a fight with his wife and that he also reportedly beat her.

Shortly after that, his wife took their children to her relatives in barangay Biasong, also in Talisay City, to protect them from their father's wrath.

Moments after his wife and children left, Cabanes reported attempted to kill himself by hanging but neighbors Ritchie Badayos, Robert Oca, and Makmak Reyes saw what he was about to do and cut the rope he was using and rolled it up to a beam inside his house.

Later, Cabanes was seen by his neighbors going to a convenience store to buy a new set of rope, but the nearby stores were already told by concerned neighbors to not sell him the same.

After sending the children to Biasong, Cabanes's wife went to the Talisay City Police Station in barangay Poblacion to report Cabanes's manhandling, and to have him arrested also.

SPO2 Elmer Saladas and PO2 Narciso Alforque responded to the alarm, and accompanied Cabanes's wife.

When the wife entered their home, she saw her husband's lifeless body.

The Talisay Rescue Emergency Action Team (TREAT), which responded to the alarm, declared Cabanes dead.

His body was brought to a funeral parlor for autopsy to find out the cause of death. - THE FREEMAN