A house caretaker was found dead in an apparent suicide at the rest house of former third district congressman Eladio Jala in Tagbilaran City.
The body of Beato Lagrada, Jr. was discovered on Thursday morning by his wife Mila, who immediately alerted the authorities.
In a report, police said that TaRSIER 117 personnel were deployed to the house in Barangay Tiptip but Lagrada was declared dead on the spot.
Authorities said that they found a suicide note near Lagrada’s remains.
According to Dr. Alberto Cavelo, Lagrada died of asphyxia due to “probable” hanging.
Last month, the Provincial Board (PB), particularly through Board Member Victor Balite, raised concern over the slew of suicide cases recorded by the authorities in June and July.
The manifestation of Balite was referred to the Committee on Health and Public Sanitation and to the Committee on Women and Family Welfare of the PB.
Support system
In an earlier interview, psychologist Kit Balane said that family members should show support to those in distress or those showing signs of despair or depression.
Balane cited multiple reasons that could drive individuals to take their own lives including feelings of hopelessness and mental disorders.
“Ang uban naa ni silay psychiatric illness. Ika duha, kining sense of hopelessness. Siguro naa siya’y gihambin na sakit…na para niya, kung ipadayon ni, lisod na g’yud kaayo. Di na niya maantos, so ang escape ra g’yud ang suicide,” Balane said.
“Ang lain rason pud, long-term relationship issues. Sa bana o asawa ba kaha, sa ginikanan or sa romantic relationship. Naa puy uban na involved na lain party, para pud makapanimaws,” he added.
However, Balane noted that there have been instances when people committed suicide without showing any signs of problems or possible causes for taking their own lives.
Reports on suicide through various channels have stopped in August, but records showed that throughout the month there were five unreported suicide cases in the province, particularly in Balilihan, Candijay, Garcia Hernandez, Loon and Sikatuna.
All five individuals died by hanging themselves. According to the World Health Organization, hanging and the use of firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally. Suicide by shooting is a rare case in the country based on a slew of national media reports.
The PB tackled the issue on suicide in September 2018 and in July this year while local Church leaders expressed concern over the incidents following reports made through print, radio and online media channels.
Such cases would have otherwise been buried in police blotters and have gone unnoticed had these not been reported. (WM)