Pinay maid falls to her death in Singapore

A 21-year-old Filipina domestic helper fell to her death on Sunday from the 25th floor of an apartment building in Singapore where she had worked for only two days.

Reports reaching the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) showed that Maricon Felix Gatpia, a native of Teresa, Rizal, fell to her death from No. 32 Jalan Rajah Tower.

The DFA could not conclusively say if Gatpia had committed suicide, though her wrists had been slashed prior to her fall from the apartment’s living room window. The DFA home office has also not ruled out foul play, but it is still awaiting the conclusion of the Singapore police investigation into the case.

DFA spokesman Victoriano Lecaros said Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Jesus Yabes told the home office that the Singaporean police are still investigating the incident, but the city state’s authorities have informed the Philippine embassy that they do not suspect foul play in Gatpia’s death.

"Pending conclusion of the police investigation, the deceased’s demise is being considered as a suicide case," Yabes said in a report.

Lecaros added that the consular officer and an embassy staffer went to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) after they were informed of the incident. They reported to the post that Gatpia’s face was partially smashed from impact with the pavement as a result of her fall from her Indo-Chinese employer’s apartment balcony. A post mortem examination would be performed on Gatpia’s remains to determine the cause of her death.

Police investigators at the SGH mortuary told the Philippine embassy that the apartment building’s security officer called them about the maid’s fall at 5:31 p.m. Gatpia was pronounced dead at SGH at 5:45 p.m.

The responding policemen said they found Gatpia’s body lying motionless and face-down on the sidewalk. Her face had been partially smashed and she bore multiple fractures on her body and limbs. Both of Gatpia’s inner wrists had open cuts.

At 7:30 p.m., the apartment building manager discovered a bunch of keys just outside the door of Gatpia’s employer while doing his rounds. The apartment manager told police that he had rung the doorbell but added that there was no response.

The Wen family and some of their relatives arrived outside their apartment at 7:30 p.m. and used the same keys to open the main gate and front door of the residence. They were surprised to see blood stains on the window and walls when they entered the unit and they immediately called the police.

Gatpia’s employer told case investigators that his family and relatives had left the apartment at 11 a.m. that morning and had just returned that evening.

A kitchen knife in a pool of blood was found on the floor of the maid’s room. A framed photograph of a small child and another picture of Jesus Christ were found on Gatpia’s bed, not far from the bloodied knife.

The embassy report said there were also bloodstains on the side of the bed. A blood trail led to the living room window where a dining chair had been placed beneath the open window. More bloodstains were found on the window and the floor near it.

Singapore authorities said Gatpia may have committed suicide because there were no signs of forced entry, ransacking or struggle.