MANILA, Philippines -- Police on Friday concluded there was no foul play in the death of a bemedalled Army colonel who was found inside his quarters last month in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Chief of police Superintendent Alfred Corpus said they are maintaining that Colonel Roberto Caldeo killed himself, based on the suicide note he left behind.

“We are still maintaining that it was a suicide and there was no foul play. Out of deference to the family's wishes, we are declaring this case closed,” Corpus said in a phone interview.

Caldeo was found dead the morning of April 24 inside his room at AOQ-6, Door 5, PMAAA Complex at East Side Housing in Fort Bonifacio.

The 48-year-old soldier was found lifeless on a bamboo bench wearing a grey shirt and blue shorts, with a lone gunshot wound on his forehead.

A three-page final report by investigator Senior Police Officer 3 Eduardo Cabria said that, although the family did not provide any samples of the victim’s handwriting to the police crime laboratory, one of Caldeo's siblings identified the handwriting as his.

“The sister revealed that there was a previous suicide attempt. She identified the suicide note as the handwriting and signature of the victim,” Cabria explained.

“The tenor of the text…fits the attributes of a suicide note—with elements such as asking forgiveness, reason [for suicide], farewell and a signature,” Cabria pointed out.

Written on a legal sized bond paper were Caldeo's last words: “Patawarin niyo ako sa lahat ng pasakit at kahihiyan na dinulot ko sa inyo. Hirap na hirap na ang kalooban ko at ito na lang ang tanging paraan para matapos ang paghihirap ko. Mahal ko kayong lahat. Paalam. Robert. [Forgive me for all the pain and shame I may have caused you. The pain within me is unbearable and this is the only way I can end my suffering. I love you all. Farewell. Robert]. ”

Investigators explained that a suicide is usually caused by extreme loneliness anchored on unresolved personal problems.

A ballistics test showed the spent .45 caliber shell recovered from the scene was fired from the pistol of the same caliber found near Caldeo’s body.

Although tests showed both Caldeo's hands were found negative for gunpowder nitrates or residue, “I don't think it would affect our findings that it was a suicide,” Corpus added.

At the time of his death, Caldeo, a member of Class 1983 of the Philippine Military Academy, was a staff officer at the Armed Forces’ Command General Staff College in Camp Aguinaldo.

He received various awards including the Distinguished Conduct Star, the Gold Cross Medal and the Wounded Personnel Medal, among others.

The Army colonel also served as a Scout Ranger and Special Forces Officer in Mindanao, and commander of the First Scout Rangers Battalion and the 33rd Infantry Battalion.