Woman jumps from 15th floor of hotel

A 30-year-old official of a civic organization jumped to her death from the 15th floor of the Manila Hotel yesterday.

The body of Concepcion Bajamunde, married of Barangay Bolatok, Pagadian City, was recovered at the hotel’s second floor’s roof deck.

She died from a broken skull and gaping wounds, according to officer-on-case SPO2 Edgardo Ko.

Investigators said Bajamunde broke the glass of the window of her room on the 15th floor room before jumping.

Bajamunde was billeted at the hotel for a two-day annual convention of the all-female Inner Wheel Club of the Philippines from Feb. 3 and 4. She was one of the officers of the club.

She arrived in Manila from Pagadian last Wednesday, but initially checked in at the Las Palmas Hotel.

She also visited her relatives while staying in the city.

During the convention proper, the victim occupied Room 1504 together with two other convention participants.

There were reports that the victim was being groomed as the club’s next district chairman in Pagadian City, which she declined.

However, her colleagues were reportedly bent on nominating her during the convention.

At around 6:30 a.m. yesterday, the victim’s 73-year-old companion told investigators that she was roused from sleep when she heard the sound of glass breaking.

She saw Bajamunde holding a wooden shoe rack, which she used to smash the window.

The companion said she embraced the victim, who kept on saying, "ayaw ko na Tita, ayaw ko na."

Bajamunde then climbed over the iron railings of the terrace as the elderly woman held on to her left leg.

However, the old woman lost her grip on Bajamunde’s leg because of the silk pajamas the victim was wearing.

Bajamunde plunged to her death.

Investigators found shards of broken glasses and a pair of gray sandals near the room’s window.