Sunken ship survivor commits suicide hours before own wedding
KORONADAL CITY – A 29-year-old man, who was among the survivors of the 2009 Superferry tragedy off Zamboanga peninsula, on Thursday committed suicide outside his home in Tampakan, South Cotabato, just five hours before he was to wed his girlfriend.
Reynold Batiao was found hanging on a rubber tree outside his home in Sitio Taplan in Barangay (village) Buto around 5 a.m., according to Senior Insp. Sherwin Boy Maglana, the Tampakan town police chief.
Maglana said that Batiao, a farmer, was to wed his long-time fiancée, identified only as Jane, at 10 a.m. of the same day.
READ: SuperFerry sinks off Zambo Norte coast
“He was last seen at 3 a.m. sleeping on a hammock,” Maglana said. “But at 5 a.m. he was found hanging on a rubber tree.”
Quoting relatives, police investigation disclosed that Batiao had been restive the past days.
“Probably he was so stressed about the wedding,” Maglana added.
Batiao was among the 957 persons that survived the sinking of a Superferry off Zamboanga peninsula that left 9 passengers dead in 2009.
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.
