Police baffled by death at cockfight arena

MANILA, Philippines – Police have yet to figure out Friday if Enrico Lising had taken his own life or had just literally dropped dead.

Police found no signs of foul play, such as wounds or other injuries, and doctors at a hospital near a cockfight arena where he collapsed Thursday afternoon said he did not appear to have ingested anything that could have caused his sudden death.

Yet police found a suicide note in the man’s pocket.

Police Officer 1 Louie Serbito, case investigator, said he was awaiting the results of an autopsy on Lising, who was identified through an ATM card.

He said Lising fell unconscious around 5:10 p.m. Thursday at the La Loma Cockpit on Calavite Street in La Loma, Quezon City, and was declared dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital nearby.

Doctors told police that Lising did not appear to have ingested anything that would kill him.

Serbito said they were baffled by Lising’s suicide note. It was addressed to his wife and asked for forgiveness and that he be buried at the Manila North Cemetery.

The man also requested his wife not to marry again and to take care of their children.

According to Serbito, a “kristo” or bet taker at the cockfight arena recalled that Lising had placed a bet of P19,500 and moved away when he observed that the bird he had bet on was losing. The bet taker followed him and found him sitting on a wooden chair outside the arena.

But as the “kristo” approached, Lising suddenly fell to the ground, unconscious, Serbito said.