Elderly man jumps to death from Edsa footbridge

MANILA, Philippines — A 65-year-old man jumped to his death from a footbridge in front of his grandson along Edsa in Caloocan City Monday morning.

The Caloocan police identified the victim as Marcial Mallo,  a resident of Lansones Street in  Malabon City.

Initial investigation showed that the suicide happened at 6 a.m. on the footbridge along Edsa near the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital in Caloocan City.

Chief Inspector Francisco Vargas, chief of the Caloocan Police substation in Bagong Barrio, said Mallo was walking with his grandson on the footbridge when the victim suddenly climbed over the railing and jumped.

Mallo, who suffered head injuries, was rushed to MCU Hospital but was pronounced dead about an hour after his jump.

Earlier reports claimed that the victim committed suicide after finding out that his money was not enough to buy medication.

However, investigators said that they have not confirmed these reports.

“We still cannot say that was the victim’s motive for committing suicide as we have yet to find a witness who will confirm that,” Vargas said in a telephone interview. His substation is in charge of the investigation of the case.

The only thing that was confirmed was that Mallo suddenly jumped as he and his grandson were walking on the footbridge, Vargas said. Investigators tried to talk to the victim’s grandson but he was not at the hospital while the victim was being revived.