The father of a 10-year-old boy who allegedly committed suicide in Talibon last week was unconvinced that his son took his own life.
According to Corporal Mark Yana of the Talibon Police Station, the boy’s father, Marlon Umbayan, 32, requested for an autopsy on Monday morning amid suspicion that there was foul play behind the death of his son, who was living with his estranged wife, Jennifer Autentico, 38.
Yana said the boy was found by Autentico as he was allegedly suspended from the ceiling with a belt tied around his neck inside her house in Barangay San Agustin, Talibon on Thursday afternoon.
Autentico rushed the boy to a hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.
Yana said that Autentico did not notify the authorities regarding the incident, as it was Umbayan who reported the boy’s death to the police on Friday.
According to Yana, Umbayan was convinced to ask for the police to conduct further investigations as Autentico’s cousin and neighbor overheard her as she threatened to kill the boy after she scolded him.
“Nasuko kuno ang inahan kay naay trabaho na wa mahuman sa bata. Gika-iktan sa iyang inahan unya mao to ang bata kay hingdagan man, gi ingnan na sa inahan ‘og madakpan gani tika, patyon g’yud tika.’ Ang statement gikan sa iyang [Autentico] ig-agaw na silingan pud,” said Yana.
Autentico, meanwhile, has yet to issue a statement regarding Umbayan’s request for an autopsy. (A. Doydora)