Man who jumped off bridge found lifeless

CEBU, Philippines - The body of a man who reportedly committed suicide by jumping off the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge last Monday evening had already been retrieved.

Last Tuesday evening, Opao Police station received a phone call from a security guard of a gas station depot in Barangay Looc, informing them about the victim's dead body floating under the bridge.

Police immediately rushed to the area and, with the help of some residents, were able to fish off the victim's cadaver that was brought ashore.

During initial investigation, it was found out the victim who remained to be unidentified was last seen alive Monday evening by resident living near the Bantayan sa Hari in Barangay Looc.

According to the accounts of citizen named Leopoldo Savillano, he personally saw the victim standing at the right side of the bridge at about 8 o'clock that night but he got himself surprised when a few moments later, he saw the man jump off from the top of the bridge.

Savillano then informed the residents by shouting that someone had jumped off and they immediately went toward the area under the bridge.

Savillano said that they even tossed a rope to the victim so he could hold on to it and be rescued but the latter ignored their effort. After few moments, they could no longer see the victim, whom they believed was drowned.

His dead body was then seen floating under the bridge at around 5:45 p.m. last Tuesday.

The victim, who was believed to be between 40 to 50 years old, 5'3" in height and was wearing a white polo shirt and black jersey shorts, remained unidentified.

As of press time yesterday, nobody has claimed the victim's body at Cebu Rolling Hills in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City. — (FREEMAN)