San Juan vendor kills self

Financial problems drove a 32-year-old vendor to commit suicide by hanging himself from a tree in San Juan City.

The body of Eric Saklawa, of 13 Arciaga St., Barangay Balong-Bato was found by a village watchman at 12:30 a.m. yesterday.

Saklawa used a telephone cord to hang himself at a vacant lot at the corner of  Arciaga and F. Roman streets.

Initial reports showed that Saklawa threatened to commit suicide several times in the past but his relatives ignored his threats. Saklawa is supporting his family by selling fried squid or calamares in the streets.

Danilo Cruz, 49, a friend of Saklawa, said that the victim had often complained of lack of money and that he is already “tired of living in poverty.”

“He always said that he will commit suicide because of his depression from being poor,” Cruz told police investigators.

Cruz said he advised the victim to work hard and go on with his life.

The victim was last seen alive while assisting a passenger jeepney park in the said vacant lot.

Fernando Salentes, 27, a barangay tanod was patrolling the area when he saw Saklawa’s body hanging from the tree.