Guingona grandson falls to his death

MANILA, Philippines - “Just tell the people about my intention.”

These were the last words of Martin Guingona Lamb, grandson of former vice president Teofisto Guingona and nephew of Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, before jumping off the 31st floor of the Vivere Hotel in Muntinlupa City yesterday morning.

Lamb, 20, said these words to his long-time friend and the last person to be seen with him, Miguel Enrique, 22, before they parted ways after a night of drinking in the hotel’s Sky Lounge Restobar at 2:30 a.m.

“Those were Martin’s last words according to Miguel. But Miguel didn‘t tell us what it meant,” a source told The STAR.

The source said Lamb arrived at the Sky Lounge about 9 p.m. on Wednesday and took a table by the bar’s swimming pool and played with his laptop until Enrique arrived at past midnight.

While alone, Lamb drank and allegedly went back and forth from his table to the bar’s railings and “peeked about 8 to 10 times.”

Enrique told police that he was on his way home when Lamb called and requested him to join him at the bar. When Enrique reached the bar, they transferred to another table and Lamb offered him a bottle of beer.

The two drank and talked until a security guard approached them at 2:30 a.m. and said that the bar was already closing.

Lamb and Enrique walked toward the elevator with security guard Jerry Carnaje and they “hugged each other” before leaving the bar.

“Just don’t do anything stupid,” the source quoted Enrique as having told Lamb.

“Martin also gave all his belongings, including laptop and cell phone, to Miguel. The only thing he left in his pocket was an identification card,” the source added.

Instead of getting into the elevator, Lamb went back and asked waiter Ronald Madrigal for a glass of water. Enrique, meanwhile, left to get his car.

After drinking the water, Lamb looked at the railings again. This caught the attention of the hotel’s sanitation officer Theresa Lazo, who in turn, sought the assistance of bar captain Christian Ginete.

“Sir, maupo muna sila dito (please sit down here),” Ginete recalled telling Lamb.

When Lamb sat down, Ginate left and called Carnaje. But before the bar captain could go out, Lazo let out a loud scream.

“Tumalon na! (he jumped),” Lazo shouted. “We were all in shock.”

The hotel management immediately called the Muntinlupa police station. Cops ruled out any foul play in the incident.

Enrique said it took him five minutes before he reached the bridge way avenue and he was shocked to see Lamb’s body lying on the ground.

Lamb’s remains are now at the Rizal Funeral Homes in Pasay City.

Appeal for understanding

Sen. Guingona appealed for understanding from the public to give his family some privacy over the death of his nephew.

“Our family is in deep sorrow following the untimely passing away of my nephew, Marc, early this morning,” the senator said in a statement.

Marc is the son of the senator’s sister Marie.

Guingona said his nephew’s death “may have been brought about by personal concerns.”

“We understand that Marc is young and may have been unable to bear burden of such concerns. The intensity of his pain is known only to him,” the senator said.

“In times like these, our family hopes that we can mourn, go through and process the pain of this tragic experience in private. We also hope that Marc would be allowed his own privacy in his last moments,” Guingona added.

His family thanked friends for the outpouring of sympathy and moral support. –With Christina Mendez