Old man hangs self in Sta. Ana

MANILA, Philippines - Possibly feeling the brunt of living alone, a 48-year-old man committed suicide by hanging inside a tenement building in Sta. Ana, Manila yesterday morning.

The body of Benjamin Paner, single, who earned his living by driving pedicabs and collecting the garbage of tenants of the building, was reportedly discovered by an occupant hanging from a beam between the dirty kitchen and comfort room at the second floor of the building.

SPO2 Benito Cabatbat said Paner used a belt to hang himself. Paner was already dead when found, Cabatbat added.

Residents of the tenement interviewed by Cabatbat averred that Paner lived a life of seclusion since his uncle, whom he lived with for 10 years, died of heart attack last year. Paner reportedly only came out of his room every time he drives a pedicab or collects garbage from tenement dwellers. No suicide note was found.

“So far no main motive of the victim for ending his life could be established, except that loneliness could have driven him to commit suicide,” Cabatbat said. Police are still conducting further investigation.