Criminology student hangs self in Toledo

A third year criminology student reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree after being scolded by his mother in Proper Awihao, Toledo City last Tuesday.

 The lifeless body of Fritz Noel Villapando, 21, was discovered by his relative, Joveline Camillo, with a shoelace around his neck tied to a santol tree.

“Ang gigamit niya liston nga baga-baga, mora’g sa combat boots taas,” PO3 Thule Tahadlangit of Toledo City Police Station told The FREEMAN.

Police recovered what they said as a suicide note from Villapando’s pocket.

Neighbors untied Villapando’s body from the tree in an attempt to revive him but failed.

During autopsy, authorities found no signs of foul play involved in the incident.

“Walay foul play, purely suicide g’yud,” Tahadlangit said, adding that Villapando sustained no injuries except for the mark on his neck from the shoelace.

Tahadlangit said that prior to the incident, Villapando was scolded by his mother Yolanda.

“Nahiubos kuno siya kay giprenda ang iya cell phone sa iyang inahan,” Tahadlangit said, quoting the entries from the victim’s alleged suicide note.

Yolanda said her son, her only child, was never involved in illegal drugs or in any vice.

Villapando reportedly wanted to join the Philippine Army. His father, an Army soldier, was killed in an ambush several years ago. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/LPM