Mentally ill patient jumps to his death

A 34-year-old mentally ill patient jumped to his death from the seventh floor of the Philippine General Hospital in Manila yesterday.

Police investigator PO1 Rommel del Rosario said Jeffrey Holgado, of Alitagtag, Batangas, landed head first on the concrete pavement and died instantly of a fractured skull and massive head trauma.

Holgado was being treated in the state-run hospital for schizophrenia, a personality disorder. He was admitted last Sunday but has been in and out of PGH as an out-patient for the past months.

His brother, Sagamon, who was watching over the patient, told the police that his mentally ill brother excused himself to go to the toilet, which was at the far end of the corridor, at around 8 a.m.

Sagamon said he accompanied his brother and was only a few feet behind when Jeffrey suddenly ran to the window, climbed out and jumped. Sagamon tried to stop him but was too late. — Nestor Etolle