Suicide eyed in dentist's fatal fall at Mandaluyong mall

MANILA, Philippines - Police are eyeing suicide in the death of a dentist who fell four floors at a shopping mall in Mandaluyong City Thursday afternoon.

Senior Superintendent Carlos de Sagun, Mandaluyong City police chief said they gathered from the relatives of the victim, Dra. Mary Ann Magtoto, 34, that she faced financial problems due to a losing business venture.

De Sagun said the victim’s husband works abroad while she practiced her profession at their residence at Barangay Kalawaan, Pasig City.

“Her family claimed that she was very worried in the past few days because her business was losing money. But she kept her feelings to herself,” he said.

Magtoto called up her mother minutes before she fell to her death from the sixth floor of the mall along EDSA at about 3:50 p.m. Thursday. She landed on the second floor near the carousel.

Her mother said Magtoto did not give any hint that she would end her life. Magtoto was declared dead on arrival at the Medical City hospital in Pasig City, where she was rushed on board an ambulance.

The mall management offered a Mass for Magtoto yesterday at the same area where she fell.