Ilocos town chief tanod hangs self

By Mar T. Supnad

STA. LUCIA, Ilocos Sur -- The chief tanod of Barangay Vical here committed suicide Tuesday due to economic hardship brought about by the pandemic.Sgt. Louis Valdez, Jr. identified the victim as Roderick Gabayne Portela, 41, saying the victim had financial and family problem that prompted him to hang himself inside their house.
    Valdez said the victim worked as collecting agent of jai alai but his income was not enough to sustain the needs of his three children due to pandemic.
    The victim’s wife was reportedly working in Qatar but Valdez said the couple may have had a family problem.

Valdez said they got a report from village chief Neil Sanchez through cell phone saying Portela was found dead hanging inside their living room with rope tied on his neck.

Responding cops found the body was already taken down by his brother Rodolfo Jr Gabayne Portela who reportedly immediately rushed the victim to the MDRRM health facility here where the victim was declared dead on arrival around 5 a.m. by Dr. Philip Ko.

Investigation disclosed the victim had family and financial problems based on his message to his wife informing the latter his motive to commit suicide.