Fil-Am model commits suicide in Pasig

MANILA, Philippines - A 28-year-old Filipino-American model committed suicide by jumping from the 28th floor of a condominium building in Pasig City yesterday.

Helena Belmonte died of head and body injuries she suffered when she landed on the exhaust vent of an air-conditioning unit at the seventh floor of the Renaissance Tower 1000.

The results of an initial investigation indicate Belmonte committed suicide, said Pasig police chief Senior Superintendent Mario Rariza as he ordered a deeper probe of the case to determine whether foul play was involved in the model’s death.

Investigators said Belmonte, her boyfriend and several friends had some drinks in her condo unit at the 28th floor.

Rariza said Belmonte left the area and her boyfriend and friends thought she went to sleep in her bedroom. At about 1:30 a.m., however, the group decided to check Belmonte’s bedroom and saw she was missing.

It took police officers and rescue workers several hours to retrieve Belmonte’s body, Rariza said.

He said he is checking reports that a suicide note was found in Belmonte’s condo unit. Her boyfriend, whose name was not released, told investigators that he and Belmonte had a quarrel recently but patched things up prior to the incident.