Man jumps off Marcelo Fernan bridge, drowns

CEBU, Philippines – A 49-year-old man died after jumping off the Marcelo Fernan bridge past 3am yesterday, the third suicide incident at the bridge in less than a week.

The body of Dioscoro Lascuna, a resident of Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City, was recovered near the Mandaue-Mactan bridge nearly an hour after he jumped off the other bridge.

Witnesses say Lascuna might have wanted to swim to shore but the current was too strong that he eventually drowned.

“Nakalangoy pa siya unta padung dinhi sa baybayon duol sa mini-park pero kusog kaayo ang current mao nga naglisod siya,” said Angelo Caballero, a bystander who retrieved Lascuna’s body.

He said Lascuna still had a pulse when he retrieved him, but he later died upon arrival at the Lapu-Lapu District Hospital.

Lascuna reportedly left his house early evening on Sunday. He reportedly had financial problems after those to whom he lent the money he loaned from the Social Security System allegedly did not pay him.

Prior to Lascuna, a woman also tried to jump off the Marcelo Fernan bridge but her husband reportedly arrived in time to stop her with the help of the bridge’s security guards.

Last Sunday, a 22-year-old nurse who works as a call center agent also tried to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge but was successfully rescued by bystanders. — Ramil V. Ayuman/JMO (THE FREEMAN)