Tanod, mechanic commit suicide

CEBU, Philippines - A barangay tanod, who reportedly got desperate because of his illness, committed suicide by shooting himself using a revolver inside their house in Barangay Danglag, Consolacion, Saturday morning.

Alfredo Alin, 62, allegedly shot himself using his unlicensed .38 revolver hitting him in the head which caused his immediate death.

He was no longer taken to the hospital because of his fatal gunshot wound.

Alfredo’s wife, Preciosa, said that prior to the incident, she offered him breakfast and a glass of milk at around 7:05 in the morning but he refused to eat and kept on crying due to his illness.

Preciosa left but a few minutes later, a single burst of gunfire rang out.

Family members rushed to Alfredo’s room and there they found him lying on his bed with the revolver in his right hand.

Chief Insp. Wilbert Parilla, Consolacion police chief, said Alfredo’s nephew, Edwin Alin, who is also the barangay captain of Danglag, revealed that the victim was suffering from diabetes with complications on his liver and heart.

“He was diagnosed taud-taud na unya ni-complicate naman di na siguro niya kaya..sige pud na siya og gakos sa iyang anak mura’g nanamilit, (He was diagnosed and it had complications already. He possibly couldn’t bear it anymore. He also allegedly kept on hugging his child, as if saying goodbye.” Parilla said in a phone interview.

The family turned over the revolver with four bullets and one empty cartridge to the police.

The body was no longer subjected to an autopsy after the family was convinced that no foul play happened.

Meanwhile, a man reportedly shot himself dead inside his house in sitio Greenland, Sun Valley, Barangay Calamba, Cebu City at 8:30 am yesterday.

Godofredo Arnival, Jr., 63, shot himself in the mouth and died immediately.

Investigation conducted by the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office showed that Arnival, an automechanic, committed suicide owing to financial problems.

Albina Arnival, the victim’s wife, told police that she was at the living room of their house when Godofredo gave her money for the wages of their auto-repair shop workers.

Godofredo then went inside their room. A few minutes later, a burst of gunfire was heard from the room, prompting Albina and Marisse Arnival-Carnabel, their 24-year-old daughter, to check what happened.

Inside the room, they saw Godofredo sitting on the floor with blood oozing from his mouth.

Investigation showed that the victim aimed the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) responded to the area and assessed the victim dead.

Policemen also arrived and were able to recover an empty shell from the victim’s lap. The victim was also found still holding a caliber .38 revolver with five more bullets on his right hand.

Albina said her husband was bothered by financial problems, which may have triggered him to take his own life.

Godofredo’s remains were taken to Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes for autopsy. — (FREEMAN)