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| The Filipina died in one of the units in Peak Providence in Tai Po. (Photo credit: Google Maps) |
By Vir B. Lumicao
A 53-year-old Filipina was found dead on Dec 9 in a flat in Taipo, New Territories, apparently killing herself by burning charcoal, police said.
The victim, surnamed Tabor, was reportedly found unconscious by residents of the unit in Peak Providence at 5 Fo Chun Road at around 3pm on that day.
Friends and other Filipina domestic workers in Taipo expressed shock on Facebook on hearing about Tabor’s death.
The victim, said to be from Bicol, was reportedly separated from her husband and had no child.
Many of her friends posted about seeing her walking her employers’ dog in the neighborhood. They said they had no idea why she would take her life.
A spokesperson from the Police Public Relations Bureau said a suicide note was found in the room where Tabor was found. She was declared dead at the scene, and her case was
classified as “dead body found”.
Her death brought to 14 the number of deaths involving Filipinos in Hong Kong that were reported to the Consulate from Nov 1 to Dec 9 this year, Vice Consul Alex Vallespin told The SUN.
Of this number, nine were OFWs, four were residents and one was a tourist.
Vallespin said that 12 of the deaths were due to natural causes, one a jobsite accident, and Tabor’s a suspected suicide.
Vallespin said those who died of natural causes suffered from various illnesses such as heart disease, pneumonia, liver problem, leukemia, kidney failure, and breast cancer, among other diseases.
In the case of the jobsite accident, the fatality was a 57-year-old construction worker who fell to his death while repairing a tower crane at a Castle Peak work site on Nov 28.
Police said the victim was taken unconscious to Tuen Mun Hospital, where he was certified dead.
The case was classified as industrial accident.
