According to reports, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student, later identified as Jonah Villarin, allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the 7th floor of the Asian College of Technology (ACT) building in Barangay Kalubihan, Cebu City on September 28, Thursday.
Winston Ybañez of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) told Sun Star that, based on their initial investigation, Villarin first tried to jump from the 8th floor two hours before the incident, but was stopped by a teacher, who then brought her to the school’s guidance counselor.
While there, the counselor called Villarin’s mom. When her mom arrived, she asked to be excused to go to the ladies room. Villarin then reportedly jumped out of the restroom’s open window and landed on a parking lot at about 4 p.m. while her mother was waiting in the guidance counselor’s office.
“The mother claimed that it was normal for the daughter to be scolded. The victim was allegedly sensitive, according to the mother,” Ybañez told the press.
Though she was rushed to a nearby hospital, she succumbed to severe head injuries. Villarin’s boyfriend, whose name has been withheld, could not believe what had happened and denied the allegation that a lover’s quarrel had driven the teen to take her own life.
This was not her first suicide attempt…
Her classmate, 18-year-old Julia Anne Caiso revealed to Sun Star that this was not the teenager’s first attempt. In fact, this was the third time she attempted to jump. The first was when she tried to leap out off their classroom’s window.
The school’s president Dr. Stephen Descallar released an official statement regarding the shocking incident, confirming the claims that the student tried to take her own life more than once. He also claimed that Villarin exhibited erratic behavior.
“From their conversation, Jonah admitted that she has been physically, verbally and psychologically abused by her parents at home but did not elaborate when asked why. She just said, ‘gikapoy na ko sa akong kinabuhi kay puros lang pain’,” claims Descallar.
(I’m so tired of my life because it’s full of pain.)
The school’s guidance counsellor had apparently advised Villlarin’s parents to take her to a clinical psychologist due to past suicide attempts, also taking into account how she tried to commit suicide through an overdose.
sources: Sun Star, Inquirer.net
READ: Talking to your kids about suicide can help save a life
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