Ailing octogenarian hangs self

MANILA, Philippines - A terminally ill 86-year-old widower was found dead by his own son inside his room, an apparent suicide, in Caloocan City yesterday morning.

Senior Police Officer 2 Joselito de los Reyes said Restituto Banigoos was found hanging by a yellow nylon cord tied to a nail on the bedroom wall by his son, Reynaldo, at around 5 a.m.

Reynaldo said he immediately called his sister so they could cut the nylon cord but his father was already dead when they did so. They immediately called for police assistance.

Authorities said the victim was last seen alive Monday night with his daughter Maria Lourdes, who said she accompanied her father to Bernardino General Hospital because he was complaining of stomach pains.

They later learned he was suffering from an unspecified serious illness, and this probably led the victim to commit suicide.