Two ‘commit suicide’ in same brgy

CEBU, Philippines – Distraught families are mourning over the death of two residents of Lapu-Lapu City who apparently ended their lives by committing suicide.

While the two took their lives through different modes and in different locations, the incidents nonetheless took place in the same barangay.

Romeo Mula, 59, of Sitio Kamanggahan, Barangay Pajo shot himself in the forehead around 6:15 yesterday morning at their kitchen, police said.

According to the accounts of the victim's son, Christopher, he was sleeping in his room together with his live-in partner when a sound of gun burst awoke them.

Curious, they went outside their room and saw Mula lying on the floor head down, apparently lifeless.

Christopher immediately called the Emergency and Rescue Unit Foundation for assistance but Mula was declared dead on arrival at the hospital by an attending physician.

Before the incident happened, Christopher's father was already expressing sentiments of leaving, even telling his son to take care of his mother if ever something would happen to him.

Special police officer Allan Pantaleon of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office said a .38 caliber of firearm with silencer was found at the crime scene.

However, authorities could not yet determine the owner of the gun or whether it had necessary permits.

The police considered that depression due to his old age might have pushed Mula to commit suicide.

Meanwhile, in one of the houses in the vicinity of Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base, Niño Jaculbe, 33, was found hanged with the use of cable wire around 10:20 p.m. on Friday.

Jaculbe's brother, Jerome, who stays in a different house, discovered the victim's dead body.

Before the incident, police said Niño was seen heavily drunk and sported a problematic disposition so Jerome called the attention of their mother around 8 that evening.

After that, Jerome went back to his house.

Upon his arrival, he then checked back on his brother by calling him over the phone, but the latter did not return his calls.

As he was increasingly worried, Jerome went back to his brother's place, only to find him already hanging from the ceiling with neck bound with wire.

He sought help from nearby air force personnel, but Jaculbe was already dead upon arriving at the hospital.

Police Officer 3 John Carlo Jocutan, investigator of the case, said Jaculbe has a live-in partner reported to be looking for work in Hong Kong.

When his partner eventually took on the opportunity to work abroad and left the country, Jaculbe could have felt depressed, according to his brother.

Police are now looking at relationship issues as possible cause of Jaculbe's suicide.