Farmer climbs post, lands in police cell

Thursday, February 23, 2012

A MAN climbed a 10-meter lamp post along the national highway in Mandaue City yesterday morning.

Last Tuesday, a man jumped off a sea vessel bound for Cebu from Manila and died.

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Ronnel Agsoy, 30, climbed the light post after having an argument with his live-in partner.

Operatives of Mandaue City’s Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) led by Insp. Diosdado Malazarte rescued Agsoy, a farmer from Danao City, while he was hanging from a sodium lamppost in Barangay Guizo.

The incident caused a commotion on the highway, which resulted in a traffic jam that lasted for about an hour.

MPG operatives used a fire truck to rescue Agsoy, who is detained at the Barangay Centro Police Station.

PO1 Ariel Gingco of the Centro Police Station told reporters yesterday that before the suicide attempt, Agsoy had an argument with his partner.

The couple is reportedly having financial difficulties as their three-year-old son is confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Gingco said Agsoy could be charged for alarm and scandal if someone files a case against him.

Agsoy told reporters that regretted his earlier decision to end his life.

Meanwhile, the crew of M/V St. Joseph the Worker failed to revive Marvin Andales, 25, who jumped off the vessel in the waters near North Gigante Island in Iloilo.

The vessel’s crew reported that a man went overboard at 1:25 p.m. last Tuesday.

Candida Andales, 93, who accompanied Marvin on the trip, said her grandson was
“mentally disturbed” and was suffering from a serious illness.

Grandmother and grandson came from Inayawan, Cebu City.

Cebu Coast Guard Commander Rolando Punzalan said the vessel’s crew reported that they tried to rescue Marvin by sending out two motorboats and throwing a life vest at him.

The vessel departed Manila last Monday night and arrived at 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday at Pier 5 in Cebu City. The vessel’s arrival was reportedly delayed for three hours because of the incident.

Candida told TV Patrol Cebu that Marvin asked for her permission to buy cell phone load.

“Nakuyawan ko nganung wala na gyud siya mabalik. Nilayat na diay siya sa barko (I was worried that he did not return. Then I learned he jumped overboard),” said Candida.

The vessel had 727 passengers, 118 container vans and seven rolling cargoes.

Punzalan said the Philippine Coast Guard is still waiting for the marine protest from the vessel’s captain.

Authorities will investigate the incident to determine if foul play was involved.