Woman jumps, man climbs tower drama on 2 bridges

CEBU, Philippines - A woman jumped off the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge while a man threatened to jump off the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in two separate incidents yesterday afternoon.

The woman, who said her name was Nene, was fished off the Mactan Channel by fishermen after she jumped off the bridge around 3 p.m. 

She was rushed to the Mandaue City District Hospital by the Accident Control and Emergency Rescue Team (ACERT) and is now under observation.

She did not have any identification documents with her and when asked who she was, she would only say that her name is Nene.

SPO2 Danny Barrita of Mandaue City Police Station 5 in barangay Looc, said that they are having a hard time informing the family of Nene as she does not have any ID and would not say where she is from.

“Wa gyud siya’y dala nga bisan unsa nga ma-identify siya o makontak nato iyang mga kaila,” Barrita told The Freeman.

The woman was described to be wearing a blouse and a pair of gray pants. She is about 30 to 35 years old and about 5’2” to 5’3” tall.

Further, she is said to be chubby and with white complexion.

According to Barrita, Nene jumped off near the center of the bridge, luckily fishermen, who were in the area saw what happened and immediately plucked her out of the water.

According to Dr. Oscar Quirante of MCDH, that before the victim was admitted she told them that she was working in Blue Garden Restaurant located at JY Square Mall, but this is still to be verified.

Quirante said that the victim did not have injuries, but they have put a breathing support system.

STAND OFF

A man, who was caught while he was allegedly about to cut off the wires of the close circuit television cameras of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, climbed up one of the towers of the bridge linking Mactan Island to Cebu and threatened to jump.

Personnel from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office rushed to the scene after they were informed by the security guard of the bridge about the incident.

The man, who remains unidentified as of press time, was reportedly caught by the guard while he tried to cut off the fiber optic wire of the CCTV camera. The man was armed with a bolo.

Police tried to convince the man to come down, but he refused. The PNP personnel also did not attempt to climb up the tower after him for fear that he might use the bolo against them.

LCPO Director Sr. Supt. Anthony Obenza said that they were informed by the guard about the incident around 4 p.m.

“Ang security sa control room nga nag-monitor maoy nanawag sa opisina pagkakita niya nga naay nisaka,” Obenza said.

More than five hours later, the man was still at the tower and refused to come down.

“Tua ra sa taas nagpahayahay, gahigda ngadto,” Obenza said.

Obenza added that the man does not intend to jump and was probably only afraid that he would be arrested.

“Wa nay plano muambak, mangawatay jud na kay naa may dala nga pinote ug sako,” Obenza said.

Personnel from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of LCPO as well as the Bureau of Fire Prevention are also at the scene.

Two rubber boats from BFP are at the Mactan Channel while a search light was provided by the BFP- Special Rescue Unit.

ANOTHER JUMPER

A 53-year-old newsboy sustained a broken leg and a huge contusion on the head after he jumped off the skywalk on Osmeña Blvd. near the office of the Social Security System yesterday morning.

Romeo Golosino, single and a resident of Urgello St., barangay Sambag I is now being treated at the Cebu City Medical Center.

A witness said that Golosino, who was selling newspapers in the area, climbed up the skywalk then went up the railings and then looked down at the vehicles on the street.

When the vehicles stopped as the traffic lights turned red, the victim suddenly jumped and landed beside the center island.

The incident caused a traffic jam and paramedics of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) brought Golosino to CCMC.

The victim’s brother, Edgar, told reporters that Golosino has a problem at their home. He declined to elaborate though as to what the problem was.

Homicide Section investigation also showed that the victim had earlier said that he would commit suicide as he was no longer able to remit money to the dealer of the newspaper he is selling.

Juliet Golosino, Romeo’s twin sister, also alleged to reporters that she has already noticed the victim earlier worrying over a problem that he refused to tell her. Juliet said her twin brother is the one who is earning money to raise two of their siblings who are mentally ill.

BODY FOUND

The man who went missing after he allegedly jumped off the Nellas Bridge in sitio Kaipilan, barangay Poblacion 1, Carcar on Monday morning was found Tuesday afternoon.

The body of Jerwin Cañada, 20, a resident of barangay Poblacion II, Carcar, was seen by one of the residents.

He was found at sitio Barraca of the same barangay, not far from the bridge.

According to residents they were trying to look over the area hoping to find the victim when suddenly they noticed a head of a person emerge from the water.

Jerwin was allegedly carried by strong current after he jumped off the bridge for a swim. – with Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ (FREEMAN)