By JOEY P. NACALABAN
Correspondent .
A Sexagenarian took his own life, apparently overwhelmed by the fact that he had too many debts.
Authorities identified the suicide as Renato Balat, 64, a fruit dealer and had resided at Barangay Kabulakan, Balingoan, Misamis Oriental.
According to a close friend, Lorena Abrigana, 18, she discovered Balat sprawled inside his store at the junction of Balingoan Port, Barangay Baukbauk, around 11 pm. Abrigana said Balat’s mouth was foaming.
Abrigana said she was with Balat earlier that evening drinking inside a nearby videoke bar.
Police personnel who responded to the report found a plastic bottle with chemical residues near Balat’s body.
Police posited that Balat may have ingested an insecticide diluted with water which caused his death.
Authorities found Balat’s suicide note at the crime scene.
“Utang ang hinungdan di ko kabayad. Wala’y labot si dalaga (Abrigana). Gikapoy lang ko sa akong utang. Salamat sa mga utang,” Balat’s suicide note reads in part.
Initial investigation of the police showed that Balat owed a lot of people money.
In the same note, Balat wrote: “Dalaga, see you in heaven. I want to see the child and be his godfather.”
Abrigana has just delivered a baby two months ago.
Balat requested in his note to hold his last vigil at the fruit stand.
Johnny Balat, the victim’s brother, did not request for an autopsy as he was convinced there was no foul play in the death of his brother.
It was learned that Balat had been separated from his wife, who is now living in Cebu together with their children.
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