Man kills self onboard ship

CEBU, Philippines - A man was found hanging dead inside a sea vessel docked at Pier 5, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City yesterday morning.

The fatality was identified as 55-year-old Ricardo Asucan who works as a carpenter of DU-EK Sam Enterprises at Occidental Mindoro and a native of Barangay Estaca, Dagohoy, Bohol.

He was found hanging in a kneeling position inside the comfort room of MV Asia Philippines at 8:30 a.m. yesterday.

Rollen Yocte, 31, a utility man of the vessel, went inside the comfort room to clean it when he discovered the body.

A white sweat shirt was tied around the victim’s neck, the other end of which was tied on the water pipe. He was already in the state of rigor mortis or muscular stiffening.

Yocte immediately informed a security guard of the port who then called for police assistance.

Nelson Baquilid, 25, and Losantos Bentulan, 30, sons-in-law of the victim, told the police that they arrived at Pier 1 from Bohol around 3 a.m. yesterday.

They went directly to Pier 5 and waited for the arrival of the vessel to fetch the victim, who came from Occidental Mindoro on board MV Asia Phils which left Mindanao 6 p.m. the previous day.

The two said that the victim, whose wife and children are in Bohol, was bound for Bohol for a family reunion and the death anniversary of his mother. He had worked in Occidental Mindoro for less than a year.

SPO2 Roger Nedamo of the Homicide Section said the sons-in-law have no idea why Asucan would take his own life.

The police conducted a body inspection on the fatality and did not find any injuries that may indicate foul play.

His body now lies at Saint Francis Funeral Homes. – (FREEMAN)