Widower kills self in Quezon City

A widower who wanted to go home to his province was found hanging from a tree beside his house before dawn Tuesday in Quezon City.

Virgilio Tagudin, 67, was discovered by his daughter, his body dangling from a santol tree near the Balintawak flyover in Barangay (village) Balombato.

Case investigator SPO1 Cristituto Zaldarriaga learned that the victim had long wanted to go home to Bicol because he could no longer put up with the difficult life in the big city.

Tagudin’s daughter, Josephine, recalled that two weeks ago, her father asked for money so that he could go back to his hometown but she was unable to give him any. Josephine said her father bade her goodbye at around 1 a.m., saying: “Nene, I am leaving. Thank you and goodbye.”

The daughter said she became worried when she could not find him inside their house.—Julie M. Aurelio

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Their crisis hotlines are available at 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free), 0917-899-USAP (8727), 0966-351-4518, and 0908-639-2672. For more information, visit their website: (https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline)

Alternatively, you can contact Hopeline PH at the following numbers: 0917-5584673, 0918-8734673, 88044673. Additional resources are available at ngf-mindstrong.org, or connect with them on Facebook at Hopeline PH.