Jumper ignores rescue team, listens to mom

For four hours, policemen, firefighters, rescue workers and barangay officials tried to convince a despondent man to abandon his attempt to jump from a billboard in Pasig City the other night.

When negotiations failed, they did the best thing. They called his mother.

Twenty-six-year-old Michael Benzon, of F. Mariano St., Barangay de la Paz, climbed a 50-foot billboard located along Marcos Highway in Barangay de la Paz at about 11 p.m. and threatened to jump to his death unless his parents settle their differences and get together again.

He said his parents have been separated for 11 years and only a reconciliation would make him happy once more.

Benzon, who works as a driver, almost slipped from where he was seated twice, but he managed to grabbed the steel railings and climbed back up.

He eventually abandoned his suicide plans upon the pleading of his mother, who was summoned by barangay officials.

He was taken down by rescuers using a ladder from a firetruck.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Abaring, Pasig police officer-in-charge, said several police and rescue teams rushed to the scene because of the presence of high-tension wires in the area.

"Binigyan siya ng babala na huwag lumapit sa mga high-tension wire, samantalang pilit rin namin siyang kinakausap na bumaba na at kung ano ang kanyang problema," he said.

A large crowd gathered below as police and barangay officials took turns in talking to Benzon.

Police had to order the crowd to be silent so negotiators and Benzon could hear each other.

Benzon could not be convinced to climb down and just sat motionless atop the billboard for several hours.

He kept on shouting that he wanted his parents to reconcile.

"Magiging masaya daw sila kapag nabuo na ang kanilang pamilya," Abaring said.

Benzon’s mother arrived and begged him to come down and work things out.

It took her 30 minutes to convince Benzon to allow firefighters to "rescue" him.

He was brought to the barangay hall where he was given food before his mother brought him to a doctor for a check-up.