Drunk woman collapses in the middle of the street

CEBU, Philippines —  A 31-year-old woman was found lying in the middle of B. Rodriguez Street in Cebu City yesterday morning, May 19, after becoming intoxicated the previous night and allegedly expressing distress over a casino-related debt.

According to a taxi driver, the woman a resident of Barangay Tandulawan, Talisay City, Cebu, boarded his vehicle from ICON club and was supposed to be brought to Sitio Bayanihan, Barangay Basak, Cebu City. During the trip, she was reportedly crying and confided that she was struggling with a ?63,000 casino debt and feared imprisonment.

The driver said the woman also allegedly mentioned thoughts of ending her life and said she might jump from a bridge along B. Rodriguez Street.

“Magpakamatay kuno siya, ana ko kung magpakamatay ka ayaw’g ambag diri sa akong taxi kay maamong ko nimo,” the driver recalled, expressing concern for his safety.

Due to fear of being implicated in any possible incident, the driver said he decided to let the passenger off in the area between 4 A.M. and 5 A.M. He added that the woman later attempted to climb a nearby wall after being dropped off.

The driver reportedly returned to the area to look for police assistance but was unable to find any authorities. When he came back, he saw the woman already lying in the middle of the road.

An ambulance responded to the scene and brought the woman to the Cebu City Medical Center around 6 A.M. She was still intoxicated and had fallen asleep on the roadway, sustaining an injury to her waist.

Her mother said her daughter had been working at ICON. Authorities have yet to release further details as investigation continues. — (FREEMAN)