Student found dead in apparent suicide

CEBU, Philippines – A 19-year-old college student was found dead in an apparent suicide around 6 p.m. on Sunday inside one of the mausoleums at the Carreta Cemetery in Cebu City.

Kim Paz, who was taking up an associate degree in Marine Engineering in a university in the city, was found hanging from a steel ladder by his friend Niña Patricia Tabura.

A wire was seen tied around the victim's neck, with its other end fixed on the steel ladder.

Senior Police Officer 2 Wetzel Berry, investigator at the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, told reporters that Paz was already acting strange after his mother left last November 5 to work in Manila.

For years, Paz and his mother have lived inside the cemetery, working as mausoleum caretakers at the same time.

Since Paz had been showing signs of depression lately, Tabura said she went to his place to try to convince him not to harm himself, but the latter was already lifeless when she arrived.

"Nahibong na sila kay palong na man ang mga suga unya sirado na ang mga pultahan sa iyang gipuy-an (Residents were alarmed because the lights were already switched off and doors closed)," Berry said.

After the discovery, Tabura immediately asked assistance from the victim's uncle, Efren. They then untied the body and called the emergency medical team for help.

In an inspection, police found no external injuries on Paz, only a ligature mark on his neck.

Jennifer Racho, a cousin, said Paz already attempted to commit suicide last Sunday but failed after she stopped him.

"Na-depress gyud ang bata pagbiya sa iyang mama kay since birth pa gud sila nagkuyog unya gibiyaan og kalit (He may have gone depressed when his mother left him)," Berry said.

Police have ruled out that the suicide may not have been committed for school-related reasons because relatives said the victim had not opened up on any academic issues recently.

Paz's body was brought to Saint Francis Memorial Homes for autopsy. (FREEMAN)