High school student kills self

CEBU, Philippines - A Department of Education (DepEd)-Cebu City Division official has confirmed yesterday that a fourth year public high school student committed suicide inside her home last week.

But DepEd Cebu City Division School Superintendent Rhea Mar Angtud denied that low grades were what prompted the female student to kill herself.

Angtud said that classmates and the teacher of the victim told her office that she was one of the bright students in class and that they did not notice that she was having a problem.

In an interview with radio dyAB, Angtud said the parents requested for privacy by not revealing their daughter's identity.

"Dili na tinuod nga nahagbong ang bata nga (It is not true that low grades caused her to commit) nag-suicide and it's not true nga niinum og (she drank) moriatic (acid).... Wa siyay problema sa (She has no problem with her) academic standing," Angtud said.

The police said the victim died of "suffocation" after she placed her head inside a plastic bag so she could not breathe.

The victim's parents reportedly found her already lifeless inside their house and immediately had her body cremated.

Cebu City Science High School Principal Marites Petiño  confirmed that the girl was a graduating student of the school.

She said the parents told the school that their daughter left a recorded video message in her cellphone stating her reasons for taking her own life and asking for apology from her family.

The student reportedly said dying was the best solution to their family's problem.

Petiño, though, said the parents likewise refused to divulge the reasons behind the suicide, and requested that their privacy be respected.— (FREEMAN)