Grade 10 student commits suicide over cellphone

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

The Department of Health has established suicide prevention hotlines in the country. For those who need help, they could call 0917-899-8727 (USAP) and 0917-989-8727 (USAP). Other helplines include that of In Touch Philippines with call crisis lines +63 2 893 7603 (Landline); +63 917 800 1123 (Globe); and +63 922 893 8944  (Sun). The Philippine Red Cross’ 24/7 suicide prevention hotline, toll-free HOPELINE 2919 (for Globe & TM Subscribers) 091 7558 4673 or 8044673.

 

His parents’ failure to buy him a mobile phone allegedly drove a Grade 10 student to take his own life.

The 18-year-old victim from Banga, Aklan was found dead at his elder sister’s house.

Police Staff Sergeant Danilo Dalida, Banga police investigator, identified the victim as Dodoy (real name withheld), a resident of Barangay Muguig, Banga.

Dodoy’s aunt discovered his body around 8:30 pm of Nov 8.

Dalida said the Banga Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Office informed them of the incident.

“When we arrived, his body was already taken to the village’s elementary school,” he said.

Dodoy’s mother allegedly asked his aunt to call for him after he failed to show up for dinner.

The victim usually stayed at his sister’s house, which is around 200 meters from their house, if he came home late and drunk.

The house is not occupied, as his sister is temporarily staying in Antique province.

The family believed that the victim indeed committed suicide.

Dalida said they found no sign of foul play in Dodoy’s death.

Dodoy’s parents claimed that the teenager had been asking for a mobile phone from them for almost a month already.

But it was hard for the couple to raise P6,000, the amount of the mobile phone he wanted to buy.

His mother was doing laundry while his father is jobless due to a medical problem.

Dodoy’s aunt had been their family’s supporter.

In fact, the aunt borrowed more than P4,000 for Dodoy’s phone.

“He has been telling his parents that he would just commit suicide if he can’t have the phone,” Dalida said.

His family described the boy as someone determined to go to school.

Dodoy allegedly wanted the phone for their classes and to help him in answering his modules on Monday (November 9).

When he learned Sunday afternoon that the money was not enough for his mobile phone, he told his aunt to return her loan.

He then drank liquor. It is believed that he was drunk when he committed suicide.

With Dodoy gone, the family is faced with another problem – the burial expenses.