No charges vs suicide dad

The man who jumped off a pedestrian footbridge on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City last Friday with his one-year old son will not be arrested and charged, the Criminal Investigation unit of the Central Police District said.

According to Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana, CIU chief, they cannot arrest and criminally charge 33-year-old Nestor Silang as he did not violate any law despite the death of his son.

"The case is quite complicated. He intended to kill himself and it was just consequential that he took his son along when he jumped. We cannot charge him with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide as he really intended to kill himself but survived," said Lipana in a phone interview.

He said Silang, who is still recuperating at the Malvar General Hospital for a broken leg, could instead face a civil case and be sued for damages by his wife, Herminia, 33.

Silang jumped off the 30-foot high footbridge near the Sandiganbayan with his son. Nestor Jr. He avoided landing on a rescue blanket that was intended to catch him and his son.

The boy was later pronounced dead at the Fairview General Hospital due to severe head injuries.

Bystanders claimed that the siren from an arriving firetruck startled the father and prompted him to jump. He landed feet first while his son’s head hit the ground.

The child was immediately taken to the hospital. The father was taken moments later, but not before receiving punches and kicks from irate bystanders.

Herminia claimed her husband had not been home for two days and only appeared at their house yesterday morning. She said that Silang suddenly took their son and left.

She said that financial woes was not the reason her husband attempted to kill himself. However, Herminia noted that they always fought over her husband’s addiction to drugs.