By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two people died in two separate suicide incidents in Cadiz City and the town of Isabela in Negros Occidental on Monday.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has requested not to identify the two victims.

The first incident, which was recorded at around 11:00 a.m., involved a 49-year-old man from Barangay Sikatuna in Isabela.

The victim was reported to have hanged himself in the ceiling of a hut.

Police Captain Joseph Partidas, officer-in-charge of the Isabela Municipal Police Station, said based on their investigation and interview with the victim’s family, it was revealed that the victim was observed to have not eaten any food for the past three days and was always inebriated.

Prior to the discovery of the victim’s remains, he was also reported to have failed to return home on Sunday night.

The victim was also reported to have not talked to anybody and would always run away whenever he sees another person.

Meanwhile, in Cadiz City, the 41-year-old victim was also found hanging inside a hut.

Police Lt. Alfonso Precia, deputy police chief of Cadiz City, said prior to the victim’s hanging around 10:00 p.m., Sunday night, the victim had been on a drinking binge inside his nipa hut.

The victim then received a phone call from his live-in partner and a heated argument ensued between them due to jealousy.

At around 3:45 p.m. the victim’s remains were found by his co-worker hanging inside the nipa hut.

Police also recovered a suicide note in the victim’s remains.

Earlier in September, Negros Occidental’s provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, appealed to Negrenses who may be suffering from depression or having suicidal thoughts not to be afraid to seek help.

According to Diaz, persons who may be thinking about taking their own lives or any person who may know someone who may be suffering from severe depression or thinking about suicide can contact the province’s 9-1-1 emergency hotline.

Diaz said the provincial government has programs that give psychological assistance to those who need it.

He also said those who contact the hotline will be referred to the province’s volunteer doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists./DGB, WDJ