Man going blind jumps off Makati building

MANILA, Philippines - A man who was reportedly about to go blind jumped to his death from the seventh floor of the 52-story Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCom) Tower in Makati City yesterday morning.

Christian Sanchez, 26, was a supervisor at the Ayala Land Inc., according to Senior Inspector Gaylord Tamayo.

Sanchez’s mother, Perlita, told police her son was apparently depressed after reportedly being diagnosed with an eye disorder that would leave him permanently blind.

The PBCom Tower, located at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Herrera street, is reported to be the country’s tallest building since 2000.

Police officers said Sanchez was seen by Alvin Mangaliag, a barista at the New York Café, at the café area on the building’s seventh floor. Mangaliag told police he saw Sanchez climb over the railing and jump.

Serge Montinola, who was walking to his office across the PBCom Tower, said he saw Sanchez hit the pavement on Herrera street 15 feet away from him.

“A few feet more and I would have been right beside him when it happened. I wanted to shout at the usual usiseros (busybodies) crowding around the cops and ambulance to go about their business. Thank God some cop asked them all to leave,” he said.

“I saw him bounce off the pavement about 15 feet away from me,” he added.

Tamayo said Sanchez jumped at around 8 a.m. and was declared dead on arrival at the Makati Medical Center 30 minutes later.