Man jumps to death from ship

ILOILO CITY — A 25-year-old man, reportedly suffering from nervous breakdown, died after jumping off a roll on-roll-off vessel early Wednesday morning at the Dumangas Port in Dumangas town of Iloilo.

Police identified the victim as John Ray Buenaflor, reportedly working in Iloilo City, who was fetched by his father and uncle in going back to his hometown in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental..

Inspector Francis Albert Fortunado, Dumangas Police chief, said a Tri-Star RoRo vessel bound for Bacolod City from Dumangas Port just left around 5:20 a.m. when the incident happened.

The victim and his uncle were talking near the vessel’s railing moments before he leaped to his death. The victim’s uncle was just discussing the port expansion with Buenaflor reportedly staring at his surroundings.

With his uncle’s arm around his neck, Buenaflor suddenly pushed him back, climbed on a chair, and jumped into the waters, about 50 meters from the port.

The Tri-Star management immediately informed the Philippine Coast Guard about the incident, resulting in the conduct of a search and rescue operation at the scene.

Almost an hour later, rescuers found the Buenaflor’s body floating and dangling on the rope of a docked vessel. He was brought to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. — (FREEMAN)