Carpenter commits suicide in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines - A young carpenter, despondent over the impending departure of his lover for an overseas job, hanged himself to death in his room after a drinking session with friends Tuesday night in Malabon City.

Police identified the victim as Dante Oplana, 24, carpenter, resident of NIA Road, Balagtas, Bulacan.

PO3 Elizalde Toledo, officer-on-case, said the incident happened at around 11 p.m. Tuesday in Neverland street, Barangay Santulan, Malabon City.

Witness Jessie Tacot, 31, pedicab driver, said that while drinking beer inside a room he was renting, Oplana told his drinking buddies he felt bad that his unnamed girlfriend was leaving him for an overseas job.

Although he said they have not broken up, still, he felt that she already had given up on him.

As the night wore on, their buddies left them one by one until only the victim and Tacot were left. Tacot said he told the victim to wait for him as he was going out to buy some ice at a store nearby.

When Tacot returned, he saw Oplana already hanging in the ceiling, a nylon cord tied around his neck. Tacot hurriedly took him down and rushed him to the San Lorenzo Ruiz Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.            – Jerry Botial