Man, 65, hangs self

CEBU, Philippines -  An unmarried 65-year-old man hanged himself Wednesday night inside his own house in barangay Mohon, Talisay City.

 PO3 Edwin Alvarado, Talisay City Police Station desk officer, said the Margarito Villaver used a plastic rope to hang himself in one of the beams of his house at past 10 p.m that day.

 Villaver left a two-page suicide note addressed to his cousin who lives in Upper Mohon, Alvarado said.

 Mohon barangay chief Dario Villaver, the victim's relative, said that Margarito did not include in his letter the reason why he took his own life, except to ask for "forgiveness" that he was committing suicide.

 The victim lived alone in a small shanty.

 So as not to burden his relatives, Margarito stated in his note that they could use the benefits he was entitled to from the Social Security System's for his burial. For his coffin, he said the barangay could just request the city hall to provide him such.

 City hall provides financial assistance and a free coffin to its dead residents.

 Villaver ruled out the possibility of foul play in the death of his relative, who was a former cook of an inter-island ferry.

 It was a call from a concerned citizen that prompted the police led by PO3 Alfredo Cuizon and PO1 Jundave David to check Margarito's house. The victim was found hanging by the neck, and was already stiff and cold. He was reportedly last seen in a birthday party in the neighborhood where his cousin Agustina was also there.

 Before he left he inserted a folded piece of paper to Agustina's pocket.