University professor shoots self dead

CEBU, Philippines - A university professor was found dead with a gunshot wound in his chest in Barangay Calamba yesterday dawn.

The fatality was identified as Nelson Aldrich Laurente Esguerra, 36, Doctor of Education and Philosophy, and professor of a Cebu City university.

Esguerra’s brother, Gary Nelson, said they were sleeping with the family when they were awakened by a thud coming from Aldrich’s bedroom.

Since they have been burglarized before, Gary said they immediately suspected that a robber barged into their house, prompting them to proceed to his brother’s room to supposedly seek help.

Aldrich, however, didn’t budge and remained silent on their calls and knockings on the door.

Thinking that the robber went inside the professor’s room, Gary said they immediately took the duplicate key to his room. They opened the room and were shocked to find him already bloodied and appeared to be lifeless.

SPO4 Rey Cuyos, team leader of the Homicide Section, said they responded to the crime scene and found the professor lying dead on his back on top of the bed with a gunshot wound in the left side of his chest.

Police also recovered the Aldrich’s 9mm pistol reportedly used in shooting himself, with a magazine that contained nine bullets, and an empty shell of the same caliber.

Police also recovered a six-page encoded suicide letter with the professor’s signature, a USB, laptop with charger, and cellular phone.

Cuyos said they requested to have the body autopsied to fully erase possible doubts on a foul play, although it was initially established that it was a case of suicide.

The firearm was also submitted to a paraffin test and the slug to a ballistic test, Cuyos added.

The Homicide Section investigator said Aldrich’s suicide note, which he wrote since 12:30 am, appeared to be a diary narrating his life and experiences since childhood, his educational achievement, until he got married, eventually annulled from his wife, and got a fiancée that he loved so much. He also revealed his last will and testament.

Aldrich revealed about someone who allegedly tries to destroy his life, whom he will never forgive.  (FREEMAN)