MANILA — Less than a month after the reported death of a 1-year-old boy inside the Manila Boystown in Marikina City, another fatality was found inside the shelter for the homeless Tuesday morning. This time, a man hanged himself from a tree.
Dr. Arnold Pangan, chief of the Manila Department of Social Welfare, confirmed on Wednesday, the death of 51-year-old Rene Mondevedo.
“According to [Boystown] staff, the victim showed signs of depression. He was rescued (or brought in from the streets) Mondayand was found dead the next day,’’ Pangan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The Marikina police have ruled out foul play. Insp. Renato Samson, officer in charge of the Police Community Precinct 5, said Mondevedo was found hanging behind a building by Boystown volunteer Rocky Angcot around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The resident physician, Dr. Alfredo Garcia, tried to revive Mondevedo but failed.
Manila Councilor Ali Atienza earlier called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development officials to look into the conditions inside Boystown amid reports of abuse and lack of food for its wards. SFM