Family seeks NBI probe on suicide

The family of Jerome Quimsing, the pencak silat athlete who allegedly committed suicide inside the team’s quarters at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Monday, asked the National Bureau of Investigation to come up with a separate report that could prove that there was no foul play involved in the tragic incident.

"He had everything going for him and he was very happy and excited going to this year’s SEA Games. He had no reason to commit suicide," Jerome’s mother, Mercedes, told PSC commissioner Amparo "Weena" Lim yesterday, four days after Jerome’s body was found hanging in the fourth floor landing of the RMSC’s north tower.

Lim said the victim’s family found it quite disturbing that Jerome reportedly took his own life due to problems with his girlfriend. "The family said Jerome never mentioned any problem with his girlfriend the last time they talked to him that’s why they wanted the NBI to conduct its own investigation to give them peace of mind," Lim told reporters.

Jerome, a 22-year-old, three-year member of the national pencak silat team bound to compete in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games this September, had a drinking session with some other athletes staying at the north tower before the alleged suicide, according to a police report on the incident.

But an autopsy report showed that Jerome was negative of any alcohol content.